Propeller wounds on whale in Sai Kung spark calls for Hong Kong public to stay away from mammal
- Photo taken on Saturday by a member of the public shows at least two deep wounds on the whale’s back
- Experts urge people not to rent boats to go whale watching to avoid causing further injuries to the mammal
Propeller wounds were spotted on the back of the whale over the weekend. Photo: Ocean Park/Sunny TongMarine experts have asked Hongkongers not to go whale watching in the waters off Sai Kung after a giant mammal seen earlier this month was spotted with propeller wounds on its back.
A picture taken on Saturday by a member of the public and obtained by the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation showed at least two deep cuts on the whale’s back.
The mammal, believed to be a Bryde’s whale measuring about seven metres (23 feet) in length, was first spotted off the coast of Rocky Harbour near Millionaire’s Beach, or Nam Fung Wan, and the nearby waters in Sai Kung in mid-July. The sighting sparked huge interest locally, with people heading out in boats to look for it.
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It disappeared for days until it was seen in Port Shelter off the University of Science and Technology over the weekend, with some members of the public reporting that it opened its jaws to feed.
Marine biologist Taison Chang Kai-tai, chairman of the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, on Tuesday said based on the photo he was almost 100 per cent certain the wounds were caused by ship propellers, as shown by their parallel pattern.
He urged the public not to rent boats to go whale watching to avoid causing further injuries to the animal. Chang also said the whale might have lost its way.
“With the injuries, it will face bigger difficulties in finding its way out [to its habitat],” Chang said, adding that it was also facing more challenges in feeding.
The society earlier said the whale might have got lost in its navigation and entered Hong Kong waters, which were not its usual habitat.
Ocean Park and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation said a crowd was spotted approaching the mammal over the weekend, which could cause it stress and lead to life-threatening consequences such as an inability to rest or feed and trauma.
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They reiterated their calls for people to refrain from approaching the whale on their vessels.
Compass Chan, the foundation’s scientific officer, said: “Whales are sensitive creatures and can be easily affected by loud noises, sudden movements and human interference.”
The park and the foundation said they would continue to work with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to assess the whale’s condition and determine the best approach to help it.