Queensland’s coast has a migration route bringing some 33,000 humpback whales each year from the cold waters of Antarctica to calving grounds on the Great Barrier Reef. We went on a whale watching trip from Queensland's Gold Coast. The whales came close enough to watch us. Here are some shots.
Tail fluke slapping is a means of communication. The breach, another means of communication, is a leap in which at least 40% of the animal's body clears the water. If fluke slapping is talking, breaching amounts to shouting, screaming and yelling.
I was horrifed by the urbanisation of the charmingly named Gold Coast. No doubt this was once a beautiful golden coast, but that has been annihilated by gross over-development by the people who wanted to be a part of it. I am just glad that they haven't wrecked the oceanic migration route of the Humpbacks; and relieved that there are no longer whalers operating along this coast. As recently as 1978, the Federal Government commissioned an inquiry into whales and whaling. It recommended banning whaling in Australia. In April 1979, the Fraser government endorsed it - just 42 years ago. Australia is now a global anti-whaling advocate. Not a moment too soon! Now, Australia, please sort out your climate policies! It's not a moment too soon.