Rare creature gives sailing students a ‘heart-warming’ surprise in Hong Kong. See it
_fitted.png "Sailing students at summer camp spotted a baleen whale in Hong Kong.")
Sailing students got a “heart-warming” surprise at summer camp in Hong Kong: a visit from a baleen whale.
The group was on the water on July 13 at the Hebe Haven Yacht Club when sailing instructors spotted the massive creature, according to a Facebook post.
Officials at the club called the sighting “a fantastic moment” in a statement shared on Facebook.
A video of the encounter shows the top half of the whale’s mouth protruding from the water for several seconds before it closes its mouth and turns to the side, diving back underwater.
“It’s amazing and heart-warming to see what looks like a Byrde’s whale surfacing so close to one of the Club’s safety boats,” Paul Arkwright, the general manager, said in the club’s statement. “Such a treat for our young sailors and definitely a great sign that our oceans are improving in terms of biodiversity.”
Arkwright said the whale was identified as a Byrde’s whale — a type of baleen whale found in warm oceans including the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The creature was spotted in coastal shallow waters, and its mouth was likely open because it was feeding.
“It may also indicate the mammal is confused,” Arkwright said in the statement. “High levels of bait fish in the area may also have attracted the whale to feed there.”
The sighting is unusual for Hong Kong, according to the World Wildlife Fund of Hong Kong. The only kinds of marine mammals that are known in the region are Chinese white dolphins and finless porpoises.
“Occasionally there are sightings of other cetaceans, some may passing through Hong Kong during their migration, yet some may appear as they are getting lost or encounter health issues,” the organization said in a Facebook post.
Social media users shared their surprise at the sighting on Facebook and Instagram.
“Very amazing and lucky,” one person wrote in a Facebook comment.
“Unbelievable,” another person said on Instagram.
“So so amazing,” another wrote on Facebook.
Despite the excitement about the whale, experts are urging people to avoid the area to ensure the whale’s safety.
“Although everyone is excited about this giant mammal, we are reminding not to actively seek out the whales,” WWF Hong Kong said on Facebook. “The increased traffic of vessels and engine noises may cause stress and disturbance to the whales.”
This story was originally published July 14, 2023 at 10:50 AM with the headline "Rare creature gives sailing students a ‘heart-warming’ surprise in Hong Kong. See it."
