Welcoming the Whales to Durban

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UKZN’s Marine Biodiversity, Aquaculture, Conservation Education and Ecophysiology (MACE) Lab was invited to participate in the Welcoming the Whales Festival along Foreshore Drive between Anstey’s Beach and Brighton Beach, Bluff, Durban on 24 June.

Its stand was used to promote awareness of the protection and conservation of the marine environment and its inhabitants, and the research currently being undertaken in the MACE Lab.

In summer, whales feed in the nutrient-rich Antarctic waters. They visit the coastline of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) annually from as early as mid-May and leave by the end of November. During winter they travel past KZN heading towards their breeding grounds off the coast of Mozambique, before turning back and returning to Antarctica. These amazing animals travel around 5 000 kilometres during their annual migrations, but have been reported to travel as many as 25 000 kilometres.

‘In the past, the intensity of whaling in the Southern Hemisphere, including off the coast of Durban, almost led to the total collapse of many baleen whale species, including both humpback and southern right whales. Due to various conservation measures in South Africa and globally, these two species have made a remarkable recovery. Surveys have reported that the humpback whale population migrating past Durban has increased from just 340 to about 7 000 individuals, representing an amazing recovery rate of more than 90% from pre-exploitation levels!’ said Mr Gan Moodley, marine biologist and Head of MACE Lab on the Westville campus.

‘Their recovery from levels that were close to extinction demonstrates the success of conservation efforts. In view of declining global biodiversity, the whales should be celebrated as a symbol of nature - they represent hope for human survival, for the health of our oceans, and for the conservation of nature.’

Moodley added: ‘It was encouraging to see people of all ages visiting our stand, examining our marine exhibits, and enquiring about marine animals and issues facing the marine environment, in addition to entrance requirements and the degree structure for marine biology at UKZN. The digital microscope attached to a computer used to examine marine animals and microplastics attracted much interest.’

Words: NdabaOnline

Photograph: Supplied