HISTORY:
The stories of old with Whales being hunted here in Otago send chills down the spine, and it seems hard to fathom either the whalers practice, or the whales themselves being 'viable' creatures to hunt. Strangely though this was a key component of The Early European Settlement here, as these whales were highly prized by whalers for their oil (used for heating and lighting) and whalebone (or baleen), which was made into corsets and parasols. The industry grew particularly strong in Otago between 1830-1850 until the whales were hunted to the brink of extinction, with estimates around 70 and as low as 30 individuals being left. The name 'Right Whale' echos eerily the ideas of the time, with these lovely creatures being the 'right' whale to hunt as they're slow-paced swimmers (travelling no more than 9 kilometres per hour), they were easy to catch; they supplied larger quantities of oil than other species; when harpooned they floated rather than sank.
Protection for these whales in New Zealand Waters has been in place since 1937, and good news for everyone is that these coastal sightings appear to be becoming more common. The New Zealand population is thought to be now increasing at about 5% per year! Long may they return!