Southern Right Whale
Eubalaena australis
Gentle Giants of the Cape Coast
Habitat
Coastal waters (breeding), sub-Antarctic oceans (feeding)
Diet
Filter feeder
Lifespan
70–100+ years
Weight
40,000–80,000 kg
Southern Right Whales migrate from Antarctic feeding grounds to the warm, sheltered bays of South Africa's coast each winter to mate and calve. Named by whalers as the "right" whale to hunt (they float when killed), these magnificent animals can reach 18 metres in length and weigh up to 80 tonnes.
Hermanus, on the Western Cape coast, is considered one of the best land-based whale watching destinations in the world. The town even has a "whale crier" who walks the streets blowing a kelp horn to announce whale sightings. Season runs from June to November, with peak activity in September–October.
Habitat & Diet
Habitat
Coastal waters (breeding), sub-Antarctic oceans (feeding)
Diet
Filter feeder — copepods and krill
Lifespan
70–100+ years
Weight
40,000–80,000 kg
Best Viewing Locations
- Hermanus
- Walker Bay
- Algoa Bay
- Plettenberg Bay
Fascinating Facts
Each whale has unique callosities (rough skin patches) used for identification, like fingerprints
Mothers produce 200 litres of milk per day to feed their calves
They have no dorsal fin and can be identified by their V-shaped blow
Calves grow 3 cm per day during their first year of life
