A large southern right whale was spotted swimming through a Perth estuary on Saturday morning, with drone footage capturing the mammal surrounded by dolphins in the Dawesville cut of the Peel region.
Whale Guided by Dolphins
Drone operator Callum Craig recorded the animal, which can reach 18 meters in length and weigh 80-90 tons, and noted its confused behavior. "Quick little video of the Southern Right Whale in the cut estuary today (Saturday), seemed to be confused and doing multiple changes in direction," he posted on social media. "I think the dolphins were trying to help but maybe this whale was a little confused as which way to go."
Other witnesses, who spotted the whale between 10:15 am and 10:30 am, agreed that the dolphins appeared to be leading it toward the deeper waters of the Indian Ocean.
Peak Migration Season
It is currently peak migrating and calving season for southern right whales along the Western Australian coastline. The season runs from May to November, as they travel north in winter and return south in late spring. They typically move closer to shore to mate, calve, and nurse in protected bays.
Recent Whale Carcass Incident
The sighting comes after a whale carcass shut down Grant Street Beach in Cottesloe over the weekend. The carcass has since been removed by Town of Cottesloe officers, and the beach has reopened. However, swimmers are advised to remain cautious. "Additional caution is recommended by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, as any residue from where the whale carcass was beached may attract sharks to the area," DPIRD said on the SharkSmart website.
