Look out for whales in the Red Sea!

The Bryde’s Whale is being regularly encountered in the southern Egyptian Red Sea.

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  It is not a widely known fact that the Red Sea is inhabited by the gentle giants of the sea, the whales. Three different species are known to dwell in its waters: the Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), the Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and the Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni). Among these species however, only the Bryde’s Whale is considered common in the Red Sea, being regularly encountered in in the southern Egyptian Red Sea and off the Saudi coast, in particular in the nutrient-rich waters of the south. This species is the least well-known of the large baleen whales worldwide thus every little piece of info is precious. In July the HEPCA Cetacean Research Unit were lucky enough to make two different sightings of this species.
  
  

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  On the 10th of July at least one adult individual (although most probably another 2 or 3 whales were roaming around) was spotted about 20 km off Shalatin. The whale was coming out of the water almost vertically, allowing the researchers to take a clear and valuable shot of the whale’s head, which is the most distinctive external characteristic. The presence of three prominent ridges on the rostrum, running from just behind the tip of the snout to anterior of the blowholes, is what distinguishes the Bryde’s whales from other whales. Bryde’s whales feed mainly on pelagic schooling fish such as pilchard, anchovy, sardine, mackerel and herring as well as small crustaceans. They surface vertically with mouth agape taking a large mouthful of food and water, expanding their throat and dislocating the lower jaw from the upper jaw. The tongue then pushes the water out through gaps between the baleen plates trapping their prey on the inside fringed edge of the baleens. It is not clear in this case, if the whale was feeding as the mouth was closed when surfacing.
  
  Six days later the same individual (photo-identified) was sighted again, travelling close to Abu Fandira, an offshore reef South of Shalatin, 25km away from the closest point ashore.
  
  

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  If you are lucky enough to encounter one of these marvellous creatures, please share the sighting with HEPCA, who are recording the sightings and your information will give them a better understandingof the seasonal movements of these animals and will contribute to their conservation. Photographs are always valuable too, it may even lead to a positive identification of an individual animal. It is important to always remember to approach the animals slowly, keeping a clearance distance of at least 50 meters and let them decide if and how to interact with your boat. Rapid, unheeding approach will almost certainly signal the end of the encounter.
  
  You might see one too, so get ready to recognise it!