Tag Archives: whale watching tasmania

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A Rare Encounter: Pygmy Blue Whale Spotted off Tasmania’s East Coast

A Pygmy Blue Whale sighted just off the Tasman Peninsula during a calm autumn morning tour.

We didn’t expect it, but yesterday’s boat tour became one for the books: a Pygmy Blue Whale spotted off Tasmania’s east coast (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda), just off the cliffs of the Tasman Peninsula.

It was one of those rare moments where time slows, and you realise you’re witnessing something few people ever will.

It began with a towering spout on the horizon. Moments later, the sleek, mottled back of a Blue Whale arched through the surface, followed by a distinctive small and upright dorsal fin – a telltale sign we were witnessing a Pygmy Blue Whale, the smaller (but still massive) subspecies of the largest animal on Earth.

The small, upright dorsal fin is one of the key features that helped us identify this whale as a Pygmy Blue.

The whale lingered near the boat, rolling and surfacing several times as it appeared to be feeding, possibly on krill stirred up by local upwelling. At one point, we caught a glimpse of its ventral pleats as it turned slightly on its side, a behaviour often associated with feeding.

Rolling gently near the surface, the whale revealed its pleated throat grooves – a sign it may have been feeding.

Why are pygmy blue whales so special?

Despite the name, Pygmy Blue Whales aren’t exactly small. They can reach up to 24 metres in length and weigh more than 80 tonnes. What makes them distinct from their Antarctic cousins is not just their slightly shorter size, but their range and habits. While Antarctic Blue Whales tend to migrate through deep, offshore routes, Pygmy Blue Whales are more likely to feed inshore, particularly along the nutrient-rich areas of Tasmania’s southeast coast near the edge of the continental shelf. But even locals in the area will tell you that it is very rare and super special to see these fascinating animals.

Scenic wildlife tours along the Tasman Peninsula often reveal Seals, Dolphins, and Seabirds — but a Blue Whale? That’s next level special!

Pygmy Blue Whales were only formally recognised as a distinct subspecies in the 1960s, and scientists are still learning about their movements, behaviour, and population size. Every sighting adds to our understanding, and moments like this remind us how important these waters are for the unique marine life.

Curious to Learn More?

If you’d like to dive deeper into the science and conservation of pygmy Blue Whales in Australia, here are some excellent resources:

  • Blue Whale Study – A research initiative led by Dr. Mike Double and colleagues, focusing on Pygmy Blue Whales in Australian waters.

Or if you want to read more stories like this, check out our earlier blog posts covering other Blue Whale sightings along Tasmania’s southeast coast.

Want to experience Tasmania’s marine wildlife for yourself?

Join one of our scenic boat tours to explore the towering sea cliffs, caves, and coastal ecosystems of the Tasman Peninsula. With a bit of luck, you might spot Dolphins, Seals, Albatross – or if the timing is just right, even a Blue Whale.

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First Humpback Whales Were Sighted Off Tasmania

The first Humpback Whales were sighted off Tasmania.

Over the past couple of weeks (end of March/early April 2025), the first Humpback Whales were sighted on our boat tours. While the peak movement of Humpback Whales past Tasmania usually occurs from late May through July, early-season sightings have become increasingly common in recent years.

Typically, it’s just a handful of individuals, moving northward, well ahead of the main migratory flow. Most are seen briefly, surfacing and diving with purpose as they cover ground on their long journey from the Southern Ocean to the breeding grounds off Queensland.

In previous years, we’ve observed some of the whales lingering off the Tasman Peninsula and feeding opportunistically. Though Tasmania isn’t considered a core feeding ground, more and more evidence appears of Humpback Whales feeding in this area, sometimes in large numbers of so called ‘super-groups’.

Is the migration timing changing?

A pair of Humpback Whales slapping their tails.

We’ve noted a trend of early arrivals in March and April over the last few years. While it’s common for the whale migration to start with a few individuals before the majority follow, the consistency of these early appearances is of interest to researchers monitoring whale behaviour in the region.

Shifts in migration timing have been reported in various regions, where earlier departures and arrivals have been linked to changing ocean conditions, temperature anomalies, and variability in prey distribution.

It’s unclear whether the early sightings off Tasmania reflect broader ecological change or simply normal individual variation. This is where continued observation from ‘citizen scientists’ comes in and can be very valuable. Recording these patterns over time helps build a clearer picture of migration dynamics and contributes to national data sets used by groups such as the Australian Marine Mammal Centre (AMMC) and ORRCA, as well as international databases like Happy Whale (which now includes an extensive list of ‘Tasmanian’ whales in the Tasmanian whale database.

How are whales tracked by researchers and members of the public?

Whales migrating past Tasmania’s Southeast coast near Cape Hauy.

The way a whale is tracked and identified highly depends on the species of whale, as they all have unique methods of identification. Researchers track Humpback Whales through:

  • Visual sightings and behavioural observations
  • Acoustic recordings of whale song
  • Photo-ID of unique tail flukes and dorsal fins
  • Satellite tagging of select individuals

Community reporting also plays a key role. Members of the public, tour operators, fishers, and coastal residents can provide images of the underside of the whale’s tail which shows unique patterns and markings, similar to our fingerprints.

If you’ve seen a whale on our boat tour or anywhere else in Australia, you can contribute your images to the Happy Whale database.

Why does this matter? From exploitation to protection

Humpback Whales have a long and complicated history in Tasmanian waters. Commercial whaling stations operated around the island well into the 20th century, with the final shore-based station closing in 1978. Yup, not that long ago! Since then, Australia’s legal protections – including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act) – have allowed populations to recover significantly.

The east Australian humpback population is now estimated at over 40,000 individuals, one of the great conservation success stories of the modern era. But that doesn’t mean the work is done. Today’s threats include entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, noise pollution, and the unknowns of a changing climate – not to mention the harvesting of antarctic krill… hundreds of thousands of tonnes every summer.

Understanding even subtle changes in migration can help scientists anticipate future challenges and shape policy that protects whales and the broader marine environment they depend on.

If you’d like to learn more about the whales that migrate past Tasmania’s shores and chance an encounter with the whales on their way up the coast, you can check our online booking system for available time slots. We look forward to having you onboard!

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Orcas, Humpback Calves, and the Mysterious Salp

Orca (Killer Whale) spotted off Tasmania’s southeast coast in November.

November Marine Life Sightings in Southeast Tasmania

November 2024 has been a spectacular month for wildlife enthusiasts exploring the waters off Tasmania’s southeast coast. We had a mixed bag of rare Orca sightings, Humpback Whales stopping by to feed with their babies in tow, and an impressive bloom of all sorts of gorgeous gelatinous creatures that look like jelly fish but are actually more closely related to humans. – Read on if you’re curious what that might be.

Seeing Orcas is always a massive treat

This male Orca with distinguishable bent tip has been identified as EA0055.

We know, we shouldn’t have favourites as all wildlife – be it on land, in the air, or in the ocean – are vital contributors to our ecosystems. But seeing Orcas (Killer Whales) in Tasmanian waters is always special.

These apex predators are very elusive in this area. Unlike Humpback Whales for example, Orcas don’t follow a certain migration schedule, which means they pop up unexpectedly, and often disappear just as quickly. They may show up at any time of the year, with some months more likely as their food source is more abundant.

November has been a great month for Orca sightings off Tasmania’s southeast coast. Reports have been pouring in from fishermen and recreational boaters. We had the best day on 9th November, when our guests got to spend around 45 minutes with a male and female Orca as we slowly cruised with them for nine kilometres between Cape Hauy and Waterfall Bay.

The towering dorsal fin of the male Killer Whale with its bent tip looked very familiar and has since been identified by David Donnelly from Killer Whales Australia as ‘EA0055’.

Humpback Whale Nursery in Motion

Throughout November, Humpback Whales have been a frequent sight on our boat tours, with groups of up to a dozen individuals feeding and travelling together. Many were accompanied by calves – baby whales that are still dependent on their mothers’ milk but are already learning key survival behaviours.

Feeding Humpback Whales in Tasmania with a young calf mimicking the adults’ behaviour.

The calves mimic the adults when they lunge-feed, breach and slap their flippers. It’s absolutely adorable to watch! These playful yet essential behaviours help the calves prepare for adulthood. They learn the most efficient techniques to feed alone and in small groups as well as to navigate the open ocean and to communicate with other whales in the area.

Gorgeous Gelatinous Creatures

In the last week of November, the waters along Tasmania’s east coast were teeming with diverse gelatinous creatures. Some of these species were Salps which are quite common to see in the area at this time of year.

So many Salps! A jelly-like creature that is closer related to humans than to jellyfish.

Salps are barrel-shaped, translucent animals that drift through the water in chains or as individuals. While they might resemble jellyfish at first glance, Salps are actually more closely related to humans than they are to jellyfish. Salps belong to the phylum Chordata, which includes all vertebrates, and they have a more complex nervous system compared to jellyfish.

Salps play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem.  Salps serve as a food source for at least 202 species, including fish, turtles, and crustaceans. When the system is out of whack due to large plankton blooms for example, the Salps being very efficient grazers come to the rescue to reduce biomass. They are also unsung heroes in the ocean’s carbon cycle. By consuming plankton – which contain carbon – and sinking to the seafloor after they die, they help transport carbon out of the atmosphere and into the deep ocean.

Ever heard of Carinaria, Sea Butterflies or Sea Elephants?

A Carinaria – usually a pelagic species – also made an appearance in coastal waters.

Amongst the Salps, this blobby little creature stood out. According to jellyfish expert, scientist and bestselling author Dr. Lisa-Ann Gershwin, it is a Carinaria – a heteropod which is a type of mollusc related to Sea Butterflies and Sea Elephants. It might not look like it, but Carinarias are carnivorous and opportunistic predators, feeding on various planktonic organisms, including Salps and Copepods.

You heard right – and we probably just opened a can of worms for you – however, we highly recommend going down the rabbit hole of ‘jelly creature’ research. There are so many weird and wonderful animals to explore that most of us have never heard of. Thanks to the research and documentation of scientists like Lisa-Ann Gershwin, we can do it all from the comfort of our coach without getting our feet wet.

…or you can join one of our scenic tours and learn more about amazing marine creatures like Carinaria.

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A Season of Migration and Connection

A Humpback Whale spy-hops in the beautiful afternoon light.

As spring unfolds in Tasmania, we are greeted by an annual rythmn that has shaped these waters for millennia. October marked the start of our new season, and with it came a surge of amazing wildlife encounters.

2024 Humpback Whale Migration

Most days, we’ve seen Humpback Whales travelling along their migratory route, at times accompanied by thousands of Short-tailed Shearwaters swarming in sweeping formations after their long journey from the northern hemisphere.

A flock of Short-tailed Shearwaters with Cape Pillar and Tasman Island in the background.

As we move into November, we start to see Humpback Whale mothers and calves appear along our coastline. Feeding on thick milk that resembles ricotta cheese, the young calves have already grown immensely after being born in the warm waters off mainland Australia a few months ago. Now, they are being guided by their mothers through the waters along Tasmania and further south towards Antarctica for the first time. It’s an extraordinary sight, made all the more powerful when considering the fragility of the journey these whales undertake – navigating their way through discarded fishing gear, plastic waste, shipping lanes, fishing fleets and seismic testing.

The Importance of Connection and Conservation

For those who value conservation, a journey along Tasmania’s coastline offers more than beautiful landscapes and wildlife sightings. It’s an opportunity to connect with a vital marine ecosystem and observe first hand the challenges and resilience of the species that live here. Our tours offer a way to experience this ecosystem without disrupting the natural behaviours of the wildlife. We hope that observing the marine life within this coastal habitat will raise critical awareness about the delicate balance that sustains this ecosystem and our collective role in conservation.

A Humpback Whale dives in front of our stationary tour boat.

In a world facing increasing environmental pressures, it’s vital to appreciate and protect our natural habitats. Wether you’re a student of marine biology, a conservation enthusiast, or simply someone drawn to Tasmania’s natural beauty, this coastline offers a powerful reminder of what’s at stake. We invite you to be part of this experience, to witness an ecosystem in motion, and to consider the ways we can all contribute to preserving it for the future.

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Kicking off the season with sunshine, whales & other wildlife

Smiley the Humpback Whale is back!

Welcoming a new season and old mates

As we step into another boating season, we’re thrilled to share the wonders of the Tasmanian waters with you. The sun is shining, and the ocean is teeming with life once again. This weekend, we operated the first tours of the season and had some amazing wildlife encounters already.

The Return of a Friend

For those who’ve followed our maritime adventures, you’ll recall the captivating tale of ‘Smiley’ the Humpback Whale. We first encountered ‘Smiley’ in 2021. This extraordinary whale, named for the distinctive smiley face mark on its fluke, stayed with us for an impressive 87 days, from April 5th to July 1st.

Having data of whales that stay a significant amount of time in the waters off the east coast of Tasmania can be valuable for scientists and ultimately for the preservation of this special place.

‘Smiley’ seems to share our enthusiasm for this beautiful region. In 2022, we’ve been graced by ‘Smiley’s’ presence once more. On May 29th, and again on June 4th, we had the privilege of spotting this inquisitive and fluke-happy whale on our cruises.

This year, ‘Smiley’ popped up on our first tour of the season on Friday, together with a friend, and again on both of our Saturday trips. It’ll be interesting to see how long ‘Smiley’ decides to stay in the area this year.

Coastal waters teeming with wildlife

Common Dolphins playing alongside migrating Humpback Whales.

In addition to our heartwarming encounters with ‘Smiley’ and the other Humpback Whales, we were privileged to witness the joyful company of around 100 Common Dolphins, gracefully playing in the waters alongside their whale companions. It was awesome to see how they interacted. The dolphins seemed as excited as we were to welcome back the majestic Humpback Whales.

The skies above were graced by soaring albatrosses and terns feeding on fish. And, of course, our beloved resident seals added their charming presence to complete the scene.

Nature’s grand performance is in full swing, and we can’t wait to share these moments with you on our boat tours.

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Rare Blue Whale – How is the size of this majestic creature!

A Blue Whale with the iconic Candlestick at Cape Hauy in the background.

A huge Blue Whale cruised south along this coastline yesterday

We often have the opportunity to see incredible marine wildlife in the coastal waters of Tasmania. However, one recent sighting stands out among the rest – a rare Blue Whale!

Now, if you’re not up on your marine biology, Blue Whales are seriously massive. David Attenborough would be talking about how they can grow up to 100 feet in length and weigh as much as 200(!) tons. Yes, you read that right: Two. Hundred. Tons.

I’ll never forget listening to him talk about the Blue Whale’s anatomy in one of his documentaries:

“The heart of the blue whale is the size of a small car, and its tongue alone can weigh as much as an elephant.”

It’s hard to wrap your head around just how massive these animals are. Their blows can reach a height of 9 to 12 meters.

We captured a nice blow yesterday in the image below. The island in the background is the Hippolyte Rock which is 65 meters tall.

The tall blow of a Blue Whale as it swims along the Tasman Peninsula coastline with the Hippolyte Rock in the background.

Where can Blue Whales be found around Australia?

Blue Whales can be found in all of the world’s oceans, but in Australia, they tend to hang out in the deep waters off the southern and western coasts, especially during the summer months. Blue Whales are known to feed on krill in the Southern Ocean, and this food source can sometimes bring them closer to shore.

Did you know that Blue Whales are an endangered species? They face a number of threats, including accidental entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, noise pollution, overfishing and climate change, which is altering ocean temperatures and currents. This can affect the distribution and abundance of the krill that Blue Whales depend on for food.

Blue Whales have a tiny dorsal fin compared to their huge body.

Blue Whale Research

There is ongoing research about Blue Whales, for example in the waters south of Victoria. This area is known to be an important feeding ground for Blue Whales during the summer months, and researchers are working to better understand the movements and behaviours of these animals in this region.

One ongoing study is being conducted by the Blue Whale Study, a research organisation based in Victoria. The study uses a combination of visual surveys, acoustic monitoring, and satellite tagging to track the movements of Blue Whales in the area and gather data on their feeding habits and population size. This research is important for improving our understanding of these animals and informing conservation efforts to protect them.

A Blue Whale heading towards the coast at O’Hara Bluff near Eaglehawk Neck.

Seeing a Blue Whale in the wild is seriously a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we feel very lucky that we had several opportunities over the last few years to share something so special with our guests.

If you are interested in reading more about previous Blue Whale sightings in this area, check out our other blog posts:

Amazing Weekend Surprise – A Blue Whale!

Blue Whales feeding next to our boat

We hope that our guests appreciate the beauty and importance of the marine environment, and that we can all work together to protect it for future generations.

If you would like to join one of our tours, check our live booking system for available time slots.

We look forward to having you onboard!

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Tasmanian Whale Season started early this year!

Whale season already in full swing

A Humpback whale slapping its tail at the start of the Tasmanian whale migration season mid September.

Our first tour for the 2021/22 season was scheduled for the 18th September, as this is usually the time when the first whales are slowly starting to arrive in Tassie waters. This year however, they seemed to be on the move much earlier. We received reports of Whale sightings all through September and people were keen to get out and go on a search. Of course we couldn’t say no and we were able to put our vessel back in the water earlier than planned.

We are already seeing Humpback Whales on most of our trips. It looks very promising that this year is going to be another epic season, similar to last year. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the whales choose to gather again in high numbers to feed along the coastline of the Tasman Peninsula, like they did in October and November 2020.

First flukes for the Tasmanian Fluke Project

This is one of the first Whale flukes we uploaded to the ‘Happywhale’ database this season to track the Whales movements.

A fair few of the first Humpback Whales we’ve sighted have been quite active and showed their beautiful flukes. The flukes are like our fingerprints individual to every Humpback Whale. We take photos of the Whales flukes and together with Dr. Maddie Brasier from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) we upload them to an online database called ‘Happywhale’. The online program helps us log the sightings and track the whales movements. Since we put our boat back in the water last week, we’ve already re-sighted one of the Whales that we saw in November 2020. Hopefully there are many more re-sights (or matches as we call them) to come!

You can read more about the Tasmanian Fluke Project on this blog post. We’d love as many people as possible to become involved as citizen scientists. 🙂

To check where, when and how many Humpback Whales have been logged in Tasmania since we started the project, click on this link and type in ‘Tasmania’ in the search bar. Keep in mind that not all whales fluke or we may not get a sharp photo of the tail, so the number of whales sighted in total is much higher than the number of whales logged.

Fantastic sighting of rare Whale species last week

Bushy blow of a Sei Whale
This photo shows the bushy blow of the Sei Whales and its long body.

Beside the Humpback Whales, two rare Whale Species to Tasmanian coastal waters have been reported this week as well by local Tim Cunningham. Early one morning, he spotted a large group of 10-15 Sei Whales and some Minke Whales towards lunch time. The Sei Whale is the third largest rorqual after the Blue and the Fin Whale. So the sheer size of the animal is very impressive. The Sei Whale is also one of the fastest Whales, reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.

What a special encounter! The last time we saw Sei Whales here on this coastline was in 2018!

We hope you enjoyed reading about our research projects and the amazing animals we’re privileged to encounter here on the Southeast coast of Tasmania. If you would like to join us, head over to our booking system and reserve your seats online. Tours depart daily at 9am and 2.30pm, depending on the weather conditions.

We look forward to sharing it with you! 🙂

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Super-Groups of Humpback Whales & Bubble-net Feeding

New paper published about the formation of ‘super-groups’ of Humpback Whales and bubble-net feeding in East Australian waters

Large groups of Humpback Whales came together to feed along the south-east coast of Australia, including here in Tasmania.

The last Humpback Whale migration south, between September and November 2020, has really been something special. Not only in Tasmania, but all along the south-east coast of Australia.

We’re excited that we had the opportunity to contribute photographic evidence of the formation of ‘super-groups’ of Humpback Whales as well as ‘bubble-net feeding’ behaviour to a scientific paper that got published two days ago. The paper by Vanessa Pirotta, Kylie Owen, David Donnelly, Madeleine J. Brasier, Robert Harcourt is titled: First evidence of bubble-net feeding and the formation of ‘super-groups’ by the east Australian population of Humpback Whales during their southward migration. If you are interested, you can access the full paper here. It’s definitely worth a read! 🙂

Super-groups of Humpback Whales feeding in Tasmanian waters.
Humpback Whales feeding in close proximity of each other.

First recorded evidence of bubble-net feeding by Humpback Whales off Tasmania and East Australia

Dr. Maddie Brasier, who is one of the co-authors of the paper and also our ‘in-house’ marine biologist has put together why this publication is another important step towards ensuring the conservation of Humpback Whales in Tasmanian and east Australian waters, so read on:

Pirotta’s paper includes three accounts of bubble-net feeding within Tasmanian waters, all three of which were recorded by Wild Ocean Tasmania. 

What is bubble-net feeding?

Bubble-net feeding is when Humpback Whales expel air underwater to create a ring of bubbles around their prey. They then lunge towards the surface inside that ring of bubbles, engulfing a massive mouthful of food. Bubble-net-feeding can be performed by single individuals or multiple animals lunging into the same bubble-net. All observations of bubble-net feeding by Wild Ocean Tasmania in the 2020 summer season involved single individuals. 

To create the bubble-nets, Humpback Whales turn tightly whilst expelling air. Humpbacks can do this, because their huge flippers are edged with tubercules. These fist-sized bumps contain one hair follicle that is connected to a series of sensitive nerves. The tubercules increase lift and decrease drag as they swim through the water. These physical features make them incredibly hydrodynamic and more agile than other whale species. 

Prior to the observations recorded in Pirotta et al. bubble-net feeding in the Southern Hemisphere had only been formally documented in Antarctica. These new observations are really exciting, and we feel incredibly lucky to have documented these events in Tasmanian waters. 

A single Humpback Whale bubble-net feeding in Tasmania – Screenshot of drone footage

Why are these observations important?

It was believed that Humpback Whales followed the “feast and famine” rule whilst migrating, feeding only in their polar feeding grounds, then fasting on migration and in their sub-tropical calving grounds. We now know this is not the case, with many records and sightings of Humpback Whales feeding during their migration in previous years, including many Wild Ocean Tasmania sightings here in Tasmanian waters.

Feeding during migration, also referred to as supplementary feeding, suggests that there is a need for Humpback Whales to supplement their energy supply outside of their summer feeding in Antarctica. Supplementary feeding may become increasingly important as our Oceans change. Flexibility in feeding practices is important for a species’ ability to adapt to changing Ocean conditions such as increased temperatures and nutrient availability. As temperature and nutrients influence the Ocean productivity, this can ultimately affect the distribution and abundance of prey species for larger marine species like Humpback Whales.

It is also possible that specialised behaviours such as bubble-net feeding may be increasingly observed as the East Australian Humpback Whale population continues to recover from industrial whaling. Such behaviours may have been present prior to over-exploitation, but are only now reappearing and being observed.

Several Humpback Whales feeding together

What does this mean for Tasmanian waters?

At present we do not fully understand the importance of Tasmania as a feeding ground to Humpback Whales and other cetacean species. However, by investigating how environmental variation and population dynamics can influence the feeding of Humpback Whales in Tasmanian waters, it will help us predict how future Ocean change may influence whale populations. This could also provide evidence for more effective management to reduce threats to Whales during known feeding periods. 

The observations in Pirotta et al. were primarily from citizen scientists and highlight the importance of observing and recording our wildlife. In Tasmania you can contribute your whale sightings to the Tasmania Fluke Project (email your photos to madeleine.brasier@utas.edu.au or to Wild Ocean Tasmania), or report your sighting to the DPIPWE Marine Conservation Programme. So get out there and tell us what you see!

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Ever watched a Whale eat?

Looking into the mouth of a Southern Right Whale

A skim-feeding Southern Right Whale on our Seal & Ocean Expedition.

Have you noticed that the Ocean has changed colour in Tasmania, from a clear blue to a deep green? The water appears to be a bit murky or ‘soupy’. This is caused from billions of microscopic algae and shrimp-like animals. These tiny drifting organisms are food for some of the largest animals that live in the Ocean.

A few days ago, we had the pleasure of watching a Southern Right Whale have it’s lunch on our Seal & Ocean Expedition. The Southern Right Whale is a member of the ‘Baleen Whale’ family. These Whales don’t have any teeth and feed by filtering food through 220-260 baleen plates that are up to 2.8 meters long and hang from each side of their upper jaws.

Looking into the mouth of a Southern Right Whale. You can clearly see the baleen hanging from the sides of the upper jaw.

Unlike the Humpback Whales that would often undertake some spectacular feeding displays, Southern Right Whales swim with a steady open-mouthed movement through prey swarms, trapping their prey in their baleen bristles, while also filtering water out of their mouth (see photo above).

To the disappointment of the researchers, there was no poo that we could have sampled, but we are very eager to collect some samples during the Whale season to help the scientists with their work, so they can analyse how Baleen Whales stimulate microbial communities through nutrients released in their faeces.

Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with our conservation projects and wildlife sightings!

And if you are traveling to Tasmania this season and would like to learn more about why whales are so important for the Oceans health and life on Earth, then come and join one of our tours. We’d love to have you on  board!

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