Plettenberg Bay has become the ‘7th whale wonder of the world’ after being crowned one of only seven Whale Heritage Sites worldwide!
Plettenberg Bay, South Africa (31 May, 2023) — The World Cetacean Alliance recently announced some epic news for whale lovers in South Africa — Plettenberg Bay has been named the 7th’ whale wonder of the world as a Whale Heritage Site.
Two of the seven Whale Heritage Sites are also proudly South African—The Bluff and Agola Bay. Plettenberg Bay’s addition is another nod to all the whale activists and communities in SA who work tirelessly to protect the gentle water giants and affirmation that their efforts don’t go unnoticed.
“Very few places have been granted full Whale Heritage Site status, demonstrating the importance of destinations such as Plettenberg Bay where tourists can support local conservation and see whales and dolphins responsibly in their natural habitat,” share the World Cetacean Alliance as part of its announcement.
Given its location between two Marine Protected Areas (Tsitsikamma and Robberg) Plettenberg Bay is a hotspot for a host of aquatic diversity, from Orcas who visit during whale season to locals like the Bryde’s whale and winter-dwellers like the Humpback.
Why Are There Whale Heritage Sites?
The Whale Heritage Site Programme is an important celebration of people who care for their coastal ecosystems, awarding communities for their care, celebration and protection of aquatic neighbours like whales.
It’s a way to let the world know which areas have the environment and conservation efforts front of mind through whale consciousness.
Especially with conservation efforts like the Plett Ocean Festival, Plettenberg Bay is well-deserving of this splash of an award.
Meanwhile, in other wonderful whale news, an AI system that’s designed to protect whales from dangerous man-made encounters has been developed in South Africa, a big win for both whale species and the planet.
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