Once hunted to the verge of extinction, Southern Right whales have not only staged a comeback but are now a major revenue earner for South Africa. These magnificent mammals are the emblem of The Green Trust Awards 2002.
Thousands of tourists flock to the country’s shores between May and October to view the gentle giants of the oceans. Each winter and spring the whales congregate in the many small bays along the Cape coast to mate and calf.
A recent whale tourism report showed that South Africa’s whale-watching industry has contributed almost R600-million to the economy. The report also stated that South Africa is one of the fastest-growing whale-watching tourism countries in the world, with an annual increase of 112,5%.
As far back as 1788 the British, French and Americans came to South Africa’s shores in search of the great Southern Rights. In those days, they came to hunt them. Between 1790 and 1825, at least 12 000 were estimated to have been slaughtered. Southern Rights were particularly prized for their rich oil and blubber and because they floated when killed.
By the early 20th Century, excessive hunting of these whales had caused a total collapse of the population, but it took until 1940 for the South African government to finally ban whaling here. Poaching nevertheless continued and between 1949 and 1970, Soviet whalers alone killed more than 3 000 Southern Rights in South African waters.
The good news is that ongoing research has confirmed the return of the Southern Right population to local waters. Whale specialist Peter Best, of Pretoria University’s Cape Town-based Mammal Research Unit, and his team have conducted an annual survey of the whales since 1969 – initially from fixed-wing aircraft and later by helicopter. They have reported that South Africa’s Southern Right Whale population is currently estimated at between 2 500 and 3 000 animals.
“The South African population has rapidly increased over the past 30 years, with an annual increase of about seven percent – a very fast rate for animals that have one calf every three years,” says Best. Each whale is identified by the unique pattern of callosites – white, wart-like markings – on its head. South Africa’s population is one of the few whale populations anywhere in the world to have been monitored over an extended period.
“There are still many unanswered questions – such as where they go once they leave South African shores,” says Best. “We believe most of the animals go south to the Antarctic, but we cannot state this with any certainty.” The mystery could be solved when Best’s team begins a new project next year to place satellite tags on the whales to monitor their movements. – Southside Media