Whale watchers on department’s radar
Filipino boxing star Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao is mobbed by supporters as he boards a float during a welcoming parade in Manila, in the Philippines, yesterday. He had surgery to his left shoulder in Los Angeles, days after losing the ‘Fight of the Century’welterweight championship bout he lost against US fighter Floyd Mayweather on May 2. KILLER whales in False Bay have been behind a sightseeing “free-for-all”, with boatloads of people mobbing the animals.
Experts say word goes out on radio or social media when the orcas are in the bay, and soon several boats will have boxed the animals in.
But while the law says boats may not approach a whale closer than 300m, there is a loophole that allows boats to get close to killer whales: the animals are not whales, they are dolphins – and the law on dolphins does not have a 300m no-go zone.
Whale scientist Ken Findlay, the head of the University of Pretoria’s whale research unit, said yesterday a that many people knew about the loophole and exploited it. “If anyone is charged, they would probably get off,” he said.
Findlay had been working on a killer whale research project with Durham University and some weeks ago needed to take skin samples from the animals for genetic testing. He had a permit to do so.
When he approached the killer whales, he said there was a “flotilla” of about five boats around the animals. “Obviously there is huge public interest in these animals, with people particularly wanting to see them predating on dolphins, which can be pretty spectacular,” he said.
Environmental Affairs Department spokesman Zolile Nqayi said yesterday the department was considering amending the legislation to address the problem. He urged the public to report transgressions.