Every endangered southern right whale that visits the region can be identified by its unique markings which can be used to count how many mammals are in our waters.
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Local wildlife photographers will learn how to best capture these markings to help the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) learn more about the species.
DELWP natural environment program officer Mandy Watson invited whale photographers to participate in the pilot training program to help the department identify and count them.
“Every year, DELWP records confirmed sightings of southern right whales, to gain a better understanding of population dynamics, and to help guide the management of this species,” Ms Watson said.
“Professional and enthusiast photographers have always been a valuable resource for the DELWP research program, contributing high-quality photographs with details of whale sightings.”
The training will provide skills to assist with DELWP’s southern right whale photo-identification research program. Participants will be taught how to tell individual whales apart and how to photograph them correctly for identification purposes.
“Southern right whales can be identified by the markings on their head, chin and jaw, which look similar to barnacles. These markings, known as callosity patterns, are unique to every individual – like a fingerprint. By photographing these callosity patterns in the correct way, photographers can provide valuable information to researchers which will allow these whales to be tracked through time and place.”
Port Fairy’s Joan and John Young are looking forward to improving their skills. “We’re finding we don’t know enough about how to get the right photography,” he said. “We’re really keen to assist Mandy and her crew with identification and if we can get shots that clearly indicate laterally and dorsally what the callosity patterns are that helps her know how long they’re in the bay.”
