Plea for help to find man who was seen sitting on an endangered Southern Right whale

‘Irresponsible fool’: Plea for help to find man who was seen sitting on an endangered Southern Right whale – while her newborn calf was nearby

  • Search for man who was seen sitting on a critically endangered whale in NSW
  • The man reportedly appeared close to the Southern Right whale and the calf
  • The person labelled an ‘irresponsible fool’ as only about 300 of whales are left

A search is underway to find three surfers who may be able to help to identify a man who climbed onto an endangered mother whale while her newborn calf was close by.

The man was seen sitting on the back of a Southern Right whale as it rested in the water off the coast near Wollongong.

The man, labelled an ‘irresponsible fool’ by authorities, reportedly clambered onto the mother whale on Tuesday when it was at Puckeys Beach.

A search is underway to find the person who reportedly climbed onto an endangered mother whale while her newborn calf (pictured) was close by off the New South Wales coast

The man was seen sitting on the back of a Southern Right whale off the coast near Wollongong and authorities want like to speak to three surfers (pictured) who they believe can help

The man was seen sitting on the back of a Southern Right whale off the coast near Wollongong and authorities want like to speak to three surfers (pictured) who they believe can help

New South Wales Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said the man in question put himself in serious danger.

‘This idiot not only endangered the mother and the calf and breached regulations, but he also put himself in danger,’ Ms Upton told Illawarra Mercury. 

‘Whales are wild creatures and a mother will protect her calf. This man is lucky he was not seriously hurt.’

WHALE PROTECTION 

People are not allowed to be within close proximity of Southern Right whales.

  • Boats are not allowed within 100 metres of a whale
  • Boats are not allowed within 300 metres of a whale with a calf
  • Swimmers are not allowed within 100 metres of a whale     
  • Drones can not be less than 100 metres above a whale 

Fines of up to $3300 can apply for breaching regulations.  

Source: NSW Environment

The minister said the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service wanted to speak to the surfers to help with the incident which put the species in danger.

There were about 70,000 Southern Right whales living in the Southern Hemisphere off the Australian coast however, since the 1920s, the number has dropped significantly to about 300.

In recent years the critically endangered whale population has increased to about 3500 but is still ‘at greater risk than others’ of extinction.

‘Mothers and calves playing together … is a very important time for the calf as the mother is teaching its young the life skills it will need before it returns to the Antarctic,’ Wild About Whales website read. 

Boats are not allowed within 100 metres of a whale, or 300 metres of a whale with a calf, and swimmers are not allowed within 100 metres of a whale. 

Fines for breaching the regulations can be up to $3300.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact the NPWS on 131 555.

The 'irresponsible fool' reportedly got close to the mother whale on Tuesday when it was at Puckeys Beach (pictured) which could result in a $3300 fine for breaching regulations

The ‘irresponsible fool’ reportedly got close to the mother whale on Tuesday when it was at Puckeys Beach (pictured) which could result in a $3300 fine for breaching regulations

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