The Humpback Whale Named for the distinctive hump behind the dorsal fin, this is an agile and acrobatic whale, often leaping out of the water and slapping its tail and flippers on the water. The most amazing characteristic of the humpback is its song - a fascinating pattern of grunts, squeals, squeaks, moans and hums in repeated sequences that may go on for 20 minutes or more. This species has been protected worldwide since 1963, and is now showing signs of recovery in South African waters. The Southern Right Whale Commonly found close inshore around Cape Town and round the coast to Port Elizabeth, its range is between 300 and 550 South. These whales come close inshore to mate and to have their calves during the winter and spring months, but have been sighted during the summer months as well.
Gestation is approximately one year, and calves are suckled for nine months to twelve months.
Females breed about once every three years, or less frequently. The whale has twin blowholes on the top of its head which expel air under great pressure. This condenses and forms a distinctive V-shape about 4 m high. Hunting of the southern right whales almost destroyed the species. Fewer than 100 of these whales survived off the South African coast when it was protected in 1940.