Conservationists are raising alarms after a humpback whale with a severed tail was spotted twice off the B.C. coast, once near Klemtu and once near Greenpoint Rapids, north of Campbell River. The whale was seen struggling to swim against the current on July 10 by a group led by Tyler Bruce, co-founder of Campbell River Whale Watching.
“It wasn’t until the whale went to sound that we actually saw the back end of the whale and the tail end being missing, and that was when you could hear a big gasp of disbelief,” Bruce said, noting a significant portion of the whale was missing.
Bruce sent images of the injured whale to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), where officials provided a grim outlook. Paul Cottrell from DFO Marine Mammal Rescue expressed his shock at the whale’s survival, stating, “It was tragic, it was horrific…. I was frankly really surprised the animal was still alive.” Without its tail fluke, the whale’s movement and foraging abilities are severely hindered, and it is unlikely to survive the long migration distances humpbacks typically travel. The whale is already showing signs of emaciation.
Identification of the whale has been challenging due to the loss of its tail fluke, which carries unique markings. Jackie Hildering of the Marine Education and Research Society suspects the injury resulted from entanglement with fishing gear, based on visible scarring. The whale has been named “Catalyst” to symbolize the urgent need for change, awareness, and education.
Hildering highlights the increase in deadly interactions between humpbacks and human activities as their population rebounds in B.C. waters. She notes the risks from vessel strikes and entanglement with “ghost gear” and estimates that around 50% of photographed humpbacks show signs of entanglement at least once.
The case underscores the necessity for better measures to protect whales, such as reducing lost fishing gear and ensuring mariners watch for whales in distress.
Source: Simon Little & Kylie Stanton (Jul 22, 2024). ‘Gut-wrenching’ photos show humpback whale with severed tail on B.C. coast. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/10636849/humpback-severed-tail/
