Hong Kong marine experts spot changes in feeding pattern of injured Bryde’s whale, raise concerns over attention on animal
- Mammal feeding for shorter periods of time and taking longer breaks between meals, scientific officer Compass Chan says
- Images of two large wounds on whale’s back and reports of boats swarming animal spark safety concerns
Marine experts have detected changes in the feeding behaviour of a Bryde’s whale spotted in Sai Kung, warning it could be a result of increased human activity around the mammal following its rare arrival in Hong Kong waters.
Concerns about the health and safety of the whale, which was first spotted in the city on July 13, have heightened following images of two large wounds on its back and reports of boats swarming the mammal last weekend.
Compass Chan Tsz-nam, a scientific officer with the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, told the Post on Friday that while the whale appeared to be in a stable condition, it was feeding for shorter periods, taking longer breaks between meals and also foraging in shallower waters.
“We guess it’s because of what happened during the previous weekend with the number of people going out into the waters,” he said. “It’s raising concerns.”
Images provided to Ocean Park and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department showed tourist-filled boats within just a few metres of the whale, despite repeated calls from authorities and conservation groups to maintain a distance of at least 100 metres (328 feet).
The shocking scenes prompted Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, who is serving as the acting chief executive while John Lee Ka-chiu is overseas, to order the marine police on Wednesday to step up patrols in the waters where the whale was spotted.
Marine experts said the wounds did not appear fresh, and might predate the whale’s first appearance in the city, but they added that this should provide greater incentive for the public to avoid disturbing the animal.
Propeller wounds on whale spark calls for Hong Kong public to stay away
Philip Wong Wing-hong, general curator for zoological operations and conservation at Ocean Park, said the whale might stay in Hong Kong waters while it recovered from its wounds.
“It’s crucial to create a tranquil environment for the whale to rest and heal, as many injured whales are able to heal on their own,” he said.
Wong added that increased pressure from human activity and other environmental factors could lead to “life-threatening consequences” for the animal, such as an inability to rest or feed.
“It should be an alarm for all of us,” said Viena Mak Hei-man, vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society. “There is a risk the whale will get injured again if we don’t do more to protect it.”
Hong Kong’s second whale sighting in 2 days as experts say give animals peace
The mammal, believed to be a Bryde’s whale measuring about seven metres (23 feet) long, was first spotted off the coast of Rocky Harbour near Millionaire’s Beach, or Nam Fung Wan, and nearby waters in Sai Kung on July 13.
It disappeared for days until it was seen at Port Shelter off the campus of the University of Science and Technology last weekend.
The last Bryde’s whale sightings in Hong Kong or in nearby waters were recorded between June and August of 2021, off Shenzhen’s Dapeng peninsula in Mirs Bay, as well as in Sai Kung. But the mammal is believed to have died after a carcass of the same species was found in waters off Shenzhen on August 30 the same year.
At the time, Shenzhen authorities had established a temporary protection zone covering 64 square kilometres, which blocked private and recreational vessels from disturbing the whale.
But despite calls from local conservation groups for the establishment of a similar protection area in Sai Kung, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said such measures were not “feasible” owing to the mammal’s “sporadic” feeding patterns across large areas of water.
“Whenever the whale surfaces for feeding and a vessel is found to be too close, authorities will take immediate action, including reminding nearby boats to keep a distance from the animal,” the department said. “Enforcement actions will be taken against anyone who refuse to cooperate to ensure the whale is not disturbed by vessels.”
“Irresponsible whale-watching behaviour may constitute an act of wilful disturbance of protected wild animals.”
Offenders of the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance are liable to one year’s imprisonment and a fine of HK$100,000 (US$12,800) upon conviction.
There are indications that the warnings are being heeded.
The World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) Hong Kong branch said it had sent staff to Sai Kung on Thursday to talk to boat operators about safe navigation if the whale appeared again and to discourage further tourist excursions into the area.
Amazed onlookers spot whale feeding in Hong Kong’s eastern waters
“Many of them said they would not send passengers to go whale watching,” said Lydia Pang Lee-yan, the interim head of oceans conservation at WWF Hong Kong.
“It’s still ongoing, so we hope the communication can continue,” she said.
Bryde’s whales are a species of baleen whales that can grow to 15 metres (49 feet) in length and weigh up to 25 tonnes (27 tons).
They are typically found in tropical waters all year round and are known for using their baleen plates to filter food when they open their jaws.
