EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
MINKE WHALES
Known for their curiosity, minke whales are known to be the travellers of the sea. They travel through the world’s oceans, experiencing different climates, but preferring colder climates over warmer ones. Usually, minke whales are solitary creatures. They swim in groups or pods composed of about 2 to 4 whales. Their mating season takes place during the summer months and this is the time when they are commonly spotted interacting and mating with one another.
At 10 months, the gestation period for the minke whale is much shorter than most other whale species (some have gestation periods of seventeen months!). Minke whales reproduce every two to three years and nurse their calf for a maximum of ten months.
MINKE WHALE FAST FACTS
- Minke whales are a type of rorqual whale and are the smallest and most abundant of the baleen whales.
- These whales grow to approximately 8-9 metres long and weigh between 5,400 to 6,800kg (females are larger than males).
- There are an estimated 800,000 worldwide.
- From the surface, Minke Whales have black to dark grey long, slender bodies and are white underneath (some also have white patches on their flippers). Their jaws are narrow and triangular.
- Minkes are known to be fast and agile swimmers for they can swim up to 33 kilometres per hour, especially when their life is being threatened.
- Minke whales can dive for up to 25 minutes, but they usually spend 10 to 12 minutes underwater before they return back to the surface to breathe.
WHALING OF MINKE WHALES
With a population of over 800,000, minke whales are the most abundant species of whale in the baleen whale suborder. Unfortunately, they are also the most hunted whales in the ocean.
However, their conservation status is of the “least concern” given their large population. Their only natural predators are large sharks and packs of killer whales.
If you love whales as much as we do, come and see them in the wild on one of our whales cruises. Departing every day from mid-May to mid-November. Book your ticket today!
WILDLIFE
Whales, dolphins, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, fur seals, lizards and an array of birdlife are just some of the wonderful wildlife that call Jervis Bay home. And you don’t have to try hard to catch a glimpse of them; most are spotted on a walk through one of our National Parks. There is also a resident pod of dolphins that are often seen from the shore or on one of our dolphin cruises. Whale watching season runs from May to November and we are seeing numbers increasing every year, including the numbers of newborn calves being born in the bay.
- Wildlife in Jervis Bay
- Plants and Animals in
- Booderee National Park
- Whale Watching Jervis Bay
- Marine Life in Jervis Bay
TOWNS & VILLAGES
The towns and villages of the Shoalhaven are a unique mix of country charm, bohemian sensibilities, rustic cafes and on-trend restaurants. Take a drive around the villages of the beautiful St Georges Basin known for its excellent fishing and kayaking or marvel at the sting-rays as they wait to greet the returning fishing boats at Woollamia boat ramp. Huskisson, the heart of Jervis Bay, is a beautiful seaside town to wander around or to relax with a coffee and watch the world go by.
- Shoalhaven Towns & Villages
- Jervis Bay Territory
- Heritage Towns in the Shoalhaven
- Best of the Shoalhaven
