EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
WHALE SPECIES IN JERVIS BAY
Jervis Bay Marine Park is a location that is blessed by the sights of passing whales at various times of the year. Whilst the most common form of whale spotted is the humpback, a range of other whales may be seen. These include false killer whales, minke whales, pilot whales, southern right whales.
HUMPBACK WHALES
Humpback whales are the most popular whale species found in Jervis Bay. Humpbacks are usually spotted between May to late November. Humpbacks are renowned for their breaching display, this is when the whale jumps out of the water, rolling & splashing into the water. Gaining a length of up to 18 meters, these whales can cruise at an average speed of eight kilometers an hour.
MINKE WHALES
Minke whales belong to the baleen whale category. This species is renowned for its long, triangular jaw & thin, long body shape. The female minke whales are larger than males, measuring up to 9 meters in length & 7,000kg. These baleen whales feed on krill & small fish.
PILOT WHALES
There are two species of pilot whales, the long-finned pilot whale & short-finned pilot whale. The pilot whale is identifiable by their round, bulbous head. The pilot whale is a very social creature; they often stay with their pod from birth & throughout their lifetime. These whales are of medium length, males reach up to 7.2 meters, while females reach lengths of 5.5 meters.
SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES
Identifiable by their lack of dorsal fin, the southern right whale is a baleen whale. These majestic whales grown up to 18 meters & 80 tonnes in weight. These large creatures have a cruising speed of 3 kilometers an hour.
FALSE KILLER WHALES
False killer whales are similar to killer whales (orcas). Contradictory to the name, false killer whales are actually a large species of dolphin. This species can grow up to 6 meters in length & weigh around 2.2 tonnes. The diet of this whale species consists of tuna, sharks, sea birds, seals & other marine mammals.
Here at Jervis Bay Wild, we ensure that we follow the Australian National Guidelines for Whale Watching in the Jervis Bay region. For more information about the guidelines, click here.
