Today’s trip became one we will never forget.
While on the water off northern Vancouver Island, we encountered a North Pacific Right Whale, one of the rarest whales on the planet.
The encounter happened near the end of our scheduled tour, but every guest on board was eager to stay out longer for the experience, so we extended the trip and remained on the water. After the whale was spotted, we contacted Bay Cetology. Their researchers were able to get on scene, confirm the identification, and document the whale.
For much of the encounter, the whale travelled slowly at the surface, showing its broad back, distinctive callosities, and lack of a dorsal fin. At times, it also spent time rolling in kelp at the surface — a remarkable behaviour to witness from a respectful distance.
Encounters like this are rare beyond words. The eastern North Pacific population is estimated to number fewer than 50 animals, making this one of the rarest large whale populations on Earth. Each documented sighting helps researchers better understand where these whales travel and how they use these waters.
According to a post by @themarinedetective “This is only the 7th known sighting [of a North Pacific Right Whale] since 1951”.
A huge thank you to our guests for sharing today’s moment with patience, excitement, and respect, and to Bay Cetology for their rapid response and ongoing work to better understand and protect whales on this coast.
Leave a Reply