Whale-ista
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Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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Incidents with gray whales in lagoon last month
In light of the recent news report about the collision with the whale near Cabo:
Last month in Ojo de Liebre lagoon a baby whale knocked the motor of our panga during an outing.
Both the mother and calf had been very friendly and were interacting with people in the boat. The baby was pretty young and having trouble lifting its
head up to get close enough to be touched. We think it was coming up under the boat when the mother lifted it at the same time.
The motor was in neutral. The captain lost his balance and fell forward and grabbed the throttle for balance. The engine revved to Max RPMs.
We didn't move and the prop didn't engage but the loud motor noise frightened everyone including the whales. Both of them immediately dove &
disappeared.
The captain wrenched his shoulder pretty badly. He had also been involved with another whale collision earlier that day.
Apparently someone on board had touched the whales' flukes or tail, causing it to hit the panga with its tail. Shari always reminds passengers to
avoid touching certain sensitive areas on the whales. This includes their eyes, flukes, tail and blowhole.
Touching any of those areas could cause a fear/aggression/protective reaction, including a tail whacking the panga.
The launchero went to the doctor and was back on duty two days later, but these events reminded us of how these large animals can easily cause damage.
And also reminded us of the importance of having a good guide, educating people about where they should NOT touch a whale.
The next day as we went out with Shari, we saw another whale flip its tail very high and very close to another panga. When we approached it came over
to us but I was very nervous about interacting with a whale that had displayed such an aggressive behavior.
It was one of the few times when I felt genuinely fearful about getting close to a whale. We decided to move on and not try to interact with it, even
though it came close to our panga.
A few minutes later we were rewarded with a very long interaction with two mothers and calves. They approached our panga and kept pushing and rubbing
against us making it impossible to leave. Finally another boat came over and they went to say hello to that group so we could return to camp.
All of these interactions are on the whales' terms. We are visiting them and they choose if and how to approach us.
Also remember: Orcas can kill gray whales by suffocating them, blocking their blow holes and preventing them from reaching the surface, so that's a
very sensitive area to be touched.
Orcas also grab their flukes and their tail so, again, don't touch those areas.
If they are touched in a sensitive area that triggers a fight or flight reaction the consequences can be serious.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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Update re Cabo incident
Tried posting text but too many special characters so it would not post properly.
http://www.profepa.gob.mx/innovaportal/v/6908/1/mx/muere_tur...
Sounds like there was a nurse on board to try to assist the injured women. Despite mouth-to-mouth resuscitation she did not make it and died at the
hospital.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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basautter
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Posts: 862
Registered: 7-1-2013
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Great info! I went for a guided whale watching tour in the San Ignacio lagoon, and they gave a great briefing on what to do/not to do prior to
launching. More stories like this, and people will start to listen!
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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I'm glad your group had that information before going out on the water Basautter-
Experienced & knowledgeable guides (like Shari) are careful to inform people of the potential dangers whales can present. The services at San
Ignacio are also very good at preparing people for safe trips.
Grays are large, strong wild animals, and the youngsters are still developing motor skills/coordination, so mishaps can occur if people touch them in
a way they interpret as threatening.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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