July 15th - Mammoth and her new calf!
Today our boats headed out looking for whales and other wildlife in our area.
Today we saw a good mix of amazing wildlife. The day began with stopping at the Rose Islets to view some Harbour Seals galumphing along the rocks. We continued South, venturing through Trincomali Channel, where we spotted two humpback whales. One of our humpback whales was identified as Mammoth (KEX0023), whose first sighting was back in 2016. Alongside Mammoth was a new whale that we hadn’t seen before. It was her 2022 calf! This calf is pretty beat up already, with scars along it’s dorsal fin and pieces of it missing.
Mammoth was first spotted in 2016, but not much is known about this whale. Mammoth is easily identified because of the scars on her dorsal side it received from a boat propeller. British Columbia has strict marine wildlife laws for boaters, paddlers, and viewers and are strictly enforced. To protect them, these regulations are in place and must be followed. If you are a recreational (private) boater you need to maintain a minimum distance of 400m (1312ft) from killer whales and when you are within 1000 m (3280ft) of whales you need to reduce your speed to under 7 knots. You are also not allowed to swim, touch, feed, or purposefully place your vessel in the direct path of the whales. To find out any additional information regarding the regulations and guidelines, please visit Be Whale Wise for more information.
Enjoy the photos taken by our naturalist Janine Van Der Linden of Mammoth and her calf!
An unknown humpback whale….who is this? Photo taken by Janine Van Der Linden
The unknown whale’s fluke with this distinct fluke we think we can get a match, its just a matter of digging through all the catalogs! Photo taken by Janine Van Der Linden
Mammoth (KEX0023) is the one with the markings and the unknown friend. Photo taken by Janine Van Der Linden
Look at Mammoth’s (KEX0023) blowholes. Photo taken by Janine Van Der Linden
Mammoth (KEX0023) and friend surfacing. Photo taken by Janine Van Der Linden
Double-crested cormorants. Photo taken by Janine Van Der Linden
Double-Crested cormorants sunning. Photo taken by Janine Van Der Linden
Steller sea lions relaxing on a buoy. Photo taken by Janine Van Der Linden
Look at that nose. Photo taken by Janine Van Der Linden