The largest dwarf minke whale that was accurately measured was 7. Minkes dedicated time to find and swim with the whales. The minke whale is the smallest of the rorqual whales. Dwarf minke whales are the second smallest of the baleen whales pygmy being the smallest. Its a phenomenon that happens nowhere else in the world. Mike balls runs minke whale tours on their liveaboard boat spoilsport, 3 or 4 night options or 7 day expeditions. This is the minke whale tours cairns season to the ribbon reefs. During the months of june and july, divers and snorkellers may have the opportunity to interact with dwarf minke whales in the warm waters of the great barrier reef. She went with low expectations and a healthy dose of scepticism, but diving with dwarf minke whales in queensland surprised and delighted elle hunt.
The name rorqual refers to the folds of skin under the lower jaw that allow the mouth of the whale to expand when it takes in large amounts of water for food. Download scientific diagram location of the dwarf minke whale swim with whales. Minke and humpback whale season far north queensland. You dont have to actively swim after the whales simply float in the water and they will keep on swimming around and underneath you, often for long periods of time. Unlike any other whale experience worldwide the dwarf minke are unique, the encounters are regular and entirely initiated by the whale s themselves. Swimming with the great barrier reef minke whales cnn travel. Minke whales typically come to the surface to breathe every two and a half minutes, but can stay under water for more than 12 minutes. Although first ignored by whalers due to its small size and low oil yield, it began to be exploited by various. The minke whale is the smallest of the baleen whales that lives in many places in the world. The dwarf minke whale expeditions run through june and july. They are found off the coasts of australia and new zealand between march and december, but the best time to see minke whales is in june and july. Right there a new whale species, now known as the dwarf minke whale, an unfortunate name as they are not in any sense dwarfs, says prettejohn was known and swimming with them has become one of the most elusive yet sought after nature experiences in. The whales are mostly encountered alone or in family groups of two or three, but can be in groups of up to eight.
The great minke whale migration 4 day4 night mv ocean quest to great barrier reef outer reefs and ribbon reefs. This is when the whales move from antarctic waters up to the ribbon reefs. Between the months of june and july a very special event happens on the great barrier reef in far north queensland australia. The common minke whale or northern minke whale balaenoptera acutorostrata is a species of minke whale within the suborder of baleen whales. Minke whale is the smallest baleen whales in the north pacific, they average 27 feet and weigh five to nine tons, the dorsal fin is on the last third of their back and bluish dark gray color above with a lighter coloring below, a bright white patch or diagonal band goes across the top of the pectoral fin. The impetus was to figure out if a dire estimate for the minke whale population.
In 2003 the great barrier reef marine park authority gbrmpa introduced permits to conduct swimmingwithwhales activities in the cairnscooktown. The common minke whale or northern minke whale balaenoptera acutorostrata is a species of minke whale within the suborder of baleen whales it is the smallest member of the rorquals and the second smallest species of baleen whale. Swim, scuba dive with minke whales on the great barrier reef. The breeding cycle in the minke whale is believed to be an annual event. Cairns whale watching tours on the great barrier reef. Minke whale dive expeditions great barrier reef mike. Oct 05, 2008 from june to august, you can observe minke whale on the great barrier reef as these very inquisitive animal migrate north. The minke whale is the smallest baleen whale, identified by about 5070 throat grooves. Minke whale balaenoptera acutorostrata although not as wellknown to most people as its close relatives the blue whales and fin whales, the minke whale is a species that should be of much interest to anyone concerned with the conservation of whales and their habitats. They have a characteristic white band on each flipper, contrasting with its. Minke whale dive expeditions with mike ball dive expeditions from cairns to the ribbon reefs. Queensland is the only place in the world where humans can interact with them. Minke whale genome and aquatic adaptation in cetaceans. The average gestation period for dwarf minke whales is 10 months.
It is the smallest member of the rorquals and the second smallest species of baleen whale. Encounters between dive boats and dwarf minke whales on the reefs north of cairns offer one of the most unique experiences you can have with a marine mammal. Ball launched the reefs first dive school in 1969 and his contributions to minke projects have earned the company numerous awards. Minke whales vocalizations can be as loud as jet planes taking off up to 152 decibels. Port douglas to cairns dive for research on dwarf minke. Adjunct associate professor in marine biology at jcu and the leader of the minke whale project dr alastair. During the months of june and july, between 60 and 80 dwarf minke whales come to the warm waters off queenslands northern coast to frolic, mate and calve. Jul 05, 2012 departing from cairns, mike ball arranges three, four and sevennight liveaboard diving and minke expeditions.
Visit the tropical gateway city to reef and rainforest. Amazing encounters with these inquisitive whales happen at the peak of their migration every june and july. The shift from terrestrial to aquatic life by whales was a substantial evolutionary event. Minke whales are the smallest form of baleen whale. They have a characteristic white band on each flipper, contrasting with its very dark grey top color. Remarkable video shows how minke whale feeds stories wwf. This is the only place on earth where you can swim and snorkel with dwarf minke whales. Location of the dwarf minke whale swim with whales activities gbr. A unique swim with whales wildlife experience and dive expedition you will never forget. The mwp based at james cook university, north queensland australia conducts multidisciplinary research into dwarf minke whale biology and behaviour, the social and economic values of the whales and the sustainable management of swimwithwhales tourism. Minke whales are the most widely hunted species in our oceans and continue to be threatened by commercial and scientific whaling. Overall, the minke whale has a dark dorsal fin and a white underbelly with a grey smoky pattern on its flanks. Code of practice for dwarf minke whale interactions gbrmpa. Every may to september minke whales and july september humpback whales migrate from the chilling antarctic sea to the far norths warmer waters.
From cairns this is the only dive trip in the world where you can swim with dwarf minke whales. Marine education and research society minke whales. Overall, the minke whale has a dark dorsal fin and a. The minke whale is the focal species of the current whaling debate. Minke whale dive expeditions 2017 a unique opportunity on the great barrier reef. Nov 24, 20 the shift from terrestrial to aquatic life by whales was a substantial evolutionary event. Taxonomists further categorize the common minke whale into two or three subspecies. The sperm whale can hold their breath for a whopping 90 minutes. Land and sea are connected and and here you will start your connection. Conception occurs when the whale is lactating in the warmer waters at low latitudes before migration occurs. Dwarf minke whales were first recognised as a distinct form in the mid 1980s and there is still little. For the first time ever, scientists in antarctica attached a camera to a minke whale and captured incredible evidence of how it feeds. These trips are seasonal, as the dwarf minke whales are only in town for a few weeks of the year. Snorkel and dive with dwarf minke whales and other spectacular marine life on the great barrier reef in australia.
Japans whaling fleet has returned with more than 300 whales harvested from antarctic waters, according to the countrys fisheries agency. It is greyish in colour with white flipper patches, has a small curved dorsal fin twothirds of the way along its back, and does not often have a visible blow upon surfacing. Watch the video below to see australian scientists tagging minke whales to learn more about their behaviour and ecology. Im processing this thought as i seize the rare chance to swim with dwarf minke whales on a remote stretch of the great barrier reef, north of cairns. Cairns dwarf minke whale trips on great barrier reef. With the drop in water temperature scientist have reason to believe this is what attracts. Minke whales not your average whale an encounter with any whale is frankly lifechanging and swimming with whales is high on the wish list for many. This is the only known site in the world where these intriguing whales are known to congregate in numbers and, unlike humpbacks, they cant get enough of humans. Swim with dwarf minke whale dive expeditions june july. Dwarf minke whale diving trips from cairns are a highlight of the scuba diving calendar, and one that can only be experienced at the great barrier reef. Minke whales are the smallest of the rorqual whales. Minke and humpback whale season far north queensland posted on april 17, 2015 by melanie blight.
The rest of the time, they are in cooler southern waters. Inwater encoutners with dwarf minke whales can last for hours, with the whales approaching quite closely, truly a remarkable experience. Pregnancy has been estimated to last 10 months and lactation is thought to last 46 months. There are two recognized species of minke whales with partially overlapping ranges. Minke whales are one of the smallest species of baleen whales and grow to nearly 9 metres long and about 10 tonnes in weight. By the end of the 1930s small scale whaling for minke whales was taking place in countries such as brazil, south africa, norway, canada, and japan. A large one is about 30 feet long and weighs 10 tons. Minke whales have earned the name stinky minkes because of the lessthanappealing smell of their spouting.
Sites, where minkes are most often seen, may be visited several times. Apr 17, 2015 minke and humpback whale season far north queensland posted on april 17, 2015 by melanie blight. All minke whales are part of the rorquals, a family that includes the humpback whale, the fin whale, the brydes whale, the sei whale and the blue whale. Minke whales have returned to cairns and the great barrier reef again this year. Minke whales may hide from surveyors in brokenup sea ice, making tracking these animals difficult. Minke whales the worlds best places for whale watching and swimming 14th december 2016 mario passoni the minke whales common name comes from the norwegian whalers of the 18th century, called meincke, who first hunted these cetaceans. I wrote this with my favourite partner in crime wynne in new york 2 years ago and after being put on hold for another artist for a long time, and having already put my ep out, i wondered if itd ever see the light of the day. Dwarf minke whale tours liveaboard trips this is the only place on earth where you can swim and snorkel with dwarf minke whales.
Like other baleen whales, those found in the northern hemisphere tend to be smaller than those from the southern hemisphere. Minke whales the worlds best places for whale watching. The minke whale is the commonest of the baleen whales around scotland, and the one you are most likely to see from headlands and ferries. Pollution and climate change also pose a threat to the minke whales habitat. The minke expeditions run throughout june and july the last one departs on july 28. Minke whale tours cairns on mike balls liveaboard boat depart from cairns. It is the smallest rorqual whale the large baleen whales. After last years lower than average numbers, it was a.
Minke whales typically come to the surface to breathe every 2. They are mostly found in the north atlantic, north pacific and antarctic oceans. Our swim with minke whale trips are basically a modified version of the cod hole trips. Dwarf minke whale liveaboard trips depart from cairns, taking you up to the far northern ribbon reefs. Minke whale dive expeditions great barrier reef mike ball dive. Swim with minke whales ribbon reef whale trips spirit of.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata physical description and related species. The common minke whale balaenoptera acutorostrata is the smallest baleen whale in the north pacific. After last years lower than average numbers, it was a great relief to see so many whales this year. The dwarf minke whale is the smallest baleen whale, identified by about 5070 throat grooves.
The encounters we have are whaleinitiated and whalecontrolled, confirms mike ball, whose company has offered dwarf minke trips since 1996. Silverswift diving information snorkelling information why silverswift. Minke whales are the most common of the great whale species, found in abundance throughout the worlds oceans. They are blackgrey in colour and can live up to 60 years. Minke whales the worlds best places for whale watching and. When underwater you can hear the minke whales singing to each other, which is their main form of communication. They are black or gray with white on their belly and a white armband across their flippers. Swim with minke whales ribbon reef whale trips spirit. Each winter on the great barrier reef, a rare and extraordinary wildlife encounter takes place. An expedition dedicated to maximising your inwater interactions at the worlds only known minke whale aggregation sites, whilst enjoying the diverse marine life of the ribbon reefs. Jul 29, 2017 she went with low expectations and a healthy dose of scepticism, but diving with dwarf minke whales in queensland surprised and delighted elle hunt. From june to august, you can observe minke whale on the great barrier reef as these very inquisitive animal migrate north. Dwarf minke whales generally start to appear on the northern ribbon reefs approximately 240km north of cairns from may onwards. Book your space on our 3, 4 or 7 night minke whale dive and snorkel tours.
Minke and humpback whale season far north queensland cairns. Commercial swim programs with the dwarf minke whale balaenoptera. In fact, scientists dont know why it happens at all. Unlike any other whale experience worldwide the dwarf minke are unique, the encounters are regular and entirely initiated by the whales themselves. The weather is now cooler, sitting near 24 degrees celsius during the day and 16 degrees celsius at night. Mar 24, 2016 japans whaling fleet has returned with more than 300 whales harvested from antarctic waters, according to the countrys fisheries agency. The minke whale balaenoptera acutorostrata is the smallest of the baleen whales found in uk waters, measuring 7 to 10 metres when fully grown. The camera one of three whale cams funded by wwfaustralia is part of efforts by scientists to better protect whale feeding areas in antarctica. The best time for whale watching on cairns great barrier reef is between may and september, depending on the type of whale you would like to see. During the cooler months of the year, dwarf minke whales migrate to the warmer, tropical waters of far north queensland to give birth to their young and escape the cold. Commercial whaling was banned by international law in 1986. The first map figure for each species depicts all occurrences by season, including the occurrence records and model.
These trips can not be booked as a day trip from cairns. Right there a new whale species, now known as the dwarf minke whale, an unfortunate name as they are not in any sense dwarfs, says prettejohn was known and swimming with them has become one of the most elusive yet sought after nature experiences in the world. Minke whale tour 4 day4 night to ribbon reef pro dive. Minke whales have a characteristic white band on each flipper, contrasting with its very dark gray top colour.