In just 17 hours, Richard McQueen’s video of two Southern Right whales and their calves swimming in Hermanus has started going viral.
Richard McQueen sent his drone out over the Atlantic Ocean in Hermanus and captured a sweet encounter between two Southern Right Whales.
We shared a Whale Watching guide back in June, you can read it here. It stated that August to September is when the mother whales start calving. Richard McQueen has filmed two new additions to the world’s whale population.
The Southern Right Whale
The best time to spot them is between July and November. You can distinguish the Southern Right by the calluses on its head, its broad back without a dorsal fin and a long, arching mouth that begins above the eye.
The females start calving in August and September. In October, the males arrive for the mating season. This is when the population is at its highest and the best time to go whale watching.
The video below you can see the newly born calves swimming up and over their mom’s heads. Almost being pushed above the surface in the process of cuddles, their tiny (well tiny for a whale) bob up into view.
Richard ran into a snag during this filming. His drone lost contact and disappeared for over 6 hours. It was only thanks to the last known GPS, a tree and Richard’s determination to get this footage that he found the drone again. Thankfully he did!
Watch the sweet footage below.
by 