- Beachgoers filmed swimming close to whale in Hobart’s Derwent River
- The southern right whale was spotted at Kingston Beach on Wednesday
- There is a 100 metre exclusion zone set by the Marine Conservation Program
Beachgoers have been filmed swimming dangerously close to a huge whale in Hobart’s Derwent River.
Hundreds were treated to the rare southern right whale sighting at Kingston Beach on Wednesday as the creature splashed around about 200 metres offshore.
But some onlookers were concerned the swimmers were getting too close and not adhering to the 100 metre exclusion zone set by the Marine Conservation Program.
Beachgoers have been filmed swimming dangerously close to a huge whale in Hobart’s Derwent River
Hundreds were treated to the rare southern right whale sighting at Kingston Beach on Wednesday as the creature splashed around about 200 metres offshore
Video of the incident shows up to 20 people swimming less than a metre from the whale.
‘A whale came to visit Hobart today… he liked to sing as well… and playing with the swimmers (yes they were a bit close)… and just lazing about in the sun,’ the group wrote.
Social media users seemed to have conflicting views.
‘This is incredible,’ one person wrote.
But another said: ‘The swimmers are idiots!’
The southern right whale was first reported to the Whale Spotting Tasmania Facebook page at about 6am on Wednesday.
Some onlookers were concerned the swimmers were getting too close and not adhering to the 100 metre exclusion zone set by the Marine Conservation Program
Video of the incident shows up to 20 people swimming less than a metre from the whale