A WHALE OF A TIME

I was dressed for the occasion and waiting to embark on an exciting adventure. Ready and eager to set sail on a whale and dolphin-watching trip. Raggy Charters, based in Port Elizabeth, has been in operation since 1992, and is one of the oldest Marine Eco tour companies in Africa.

They play a vital role in the conservation as well as the education of our South African marine life. All their boats are SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) certified and specifically designed for the Eastern Cape Ocean and weather conditions.

This incredible 4-hour experience is set against the stunning backdrop of Southern Africa’s coastal waters.  The trip to St. Croix Island provides enough time to experience the sheer beauty of the marine life in its natural habitat. The ooh’s and aah’s on board were a perfect indication of just how pleasurable the trip was.

Our excitement grew as we ventured into the deep abyss and got closer to the surprisingly acrobatic whales and dolphins.  Their performance in the water was spectacular and it felt as if it was a well-choreographed show playing off in front of our eyes, just for us to see. It felt as if they were seemingly quite aware of our presence. We watched as they breached through the water, dancing to the beat of the waves with the little ones tight at their mother's side; watching and learning. 

Nearly all whales, particularly the humpback, are known for being very protective of their calves. Recent studies have shown that although whales are friendly and come across as being playful or curious towards humans, they will protect their calves at all costs.

We learned about their behavior and migratory patterns, the birth as well as the weaning of their calves, their feeding patterns, and of course the impact climate change and mankind have on their future existence.

The Southern right whales mate and give birth in the warm waters of Algoa Bay during the winter. (June till October)  They spend the summer months in the waters of Antarctica where the food is abundant. The humpback whales also use the Bay from June to December to raise their calves, getting them ready for the long journey to the North. Luckily the Brydes and Minke whales are in the waters of the Bay all year long.

The sheer size, beauty, strength, and force of the whales make one realize just how small and insignificant we are as human beings.

Many of us grew up with the Biblical story of Jonah who was swallowed by a whale and despite the cynicism towards it and the vague evidence; reasons exist to believe that Jonah’s fish tale is a fact, and not at all fiction. Looking at the mere size of these animals, I truly believe that Jonah’s stay inside the whale was not that uncomfortable.

As we approached the rocky St Croix Island, we were greeted by hundreds of African penguins basking in the morning sun. Even though a lot is done to preserve them along with the places where they live from extinction, they are still at risk of becoming extinct. Ship-to-ship fuel transfer and overfishing close to the island are the two main reasons why penguin numbers are on the decline on this island. However, St Croix Island is still home to the largest colony (50% of the world population) in the small world of the African penguin.  

Algoa Bay is also known as the Capital of the Bottlenose dolphins and we were able to closely observe these social creatures as they frolicked in the surf. Although they come across as being friendly and harmless, they are still wild animals and should be left in the wild where they belong. Of course, human activity poses serious threats to these beautiful sea animals. The threats can be ocean pollution, commercial fishing, habitat loss, military activity, and global warming, to name but a few.

Whales and dolphins rely heavily on their sensory ability (echolocation) to navigate themselves throughout the ocean. Sadly manmade sound, like the sound and navigation equipment used by vessels and in particular military boats and submarines is a threat to the future existence of these magnificent sea mammals.

As much as I enjoyed every minute on that boat I cannot help but feel concerned that I may be part of the problem. These whale-watching trips are becoming more and more popular as each day passes. The number of people joining these trips has exploded into the millions worldwide; it will most likely never stop as the estimated value of the industry runs in the billions.

Maybe it is time to rethink the practice of whale watching. At a recent International Marine Claims Conference, it was said that although whale-watching is not as bad as whaling, it may be that last piece that pushes a species over.

“We owe it to our children to be better stewards of the environment. The alternative? A world without whales. It’s too terrible to imagine.”
- Pierce Brosnan

VIDEOS BY THE LOPEZ FAMILY