Photo with 45-foot-long right whale

[CFOh]

Brian Skerry describes the exhilaration of an up-close encounter with a curious, 45-foot-long right whale.

Below article from reef tools news...

During a 3-week winter expedition to Auckland Islands, National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry and his assistant encountered an incredible 45-foot long Right Whale. The whale swap down to the bottom and gently approached the duo. Brian’s assistant, stood on the ocean-floor and posed perfectly for this amazing shot. “Our hearts were beating right out of our chest, because it was so exhilarating,” says Skerry, “but there is no threat by this animal it just had a great deal of curiosity”. The result, this amazingly composed shot.

“I’ve had some magnificent animal encounters out there in the wild; but I have to say, this one tops the list.”Can you imagine being at the bottom of the ocean and seeing this giant swimming towards you. How incredible.

Right Whales, which refers to three species of large baleen whales, were given this name by whales who considered them “right” for the hunt, due to their tendency to swim close to the shores, and then float when killed. Because of these two factors, they almost became extinct by the whaling industry.

[desideria]

beautiful....

NO TO WHALING!!!!

[CFOh]

Yup, Stop whaling.. Save the Whales...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msBsmTKvois

[CFOh]

Dead Rare Blue Whale May Have Choked on Netting

Below articles from reeftools (May 3rd, 2011)...

A dead rare blue whale was discovered by locals near Whangaui Beach, south of Waitotara. The 22.5 meter whale was already dead when it washed ashore, said the Conservation Department. The whale weighed in somewhere between 60 and 80 tonnes, and seemed to be completely emaciated.

“It has clearly suffered pretty badly. You can see that the ridge of the back caves away on each side … it certainly hasn’t been feeding. Particularly at this time of year, after they’ve been feeding over summer down in the Southern Ocean, they should be at their fattest,” said Anton van Helden, collection manager of marine mammals at Te Papa.

What may have happened, was that the whale was caught in netting or a rope, and unable to move.

photo by Department of Conservations