Earlier today,
09:00 AM, IMMRAC team was alerted to a presence of a whale, a mile and a half
off Herzliya Marina. Upon arrival, the ca 13 m long whale was spotted and
followed for two hours, southward along the coast. The whale made a continuous
series of short (3-5 minute) dives occasionally displaying its flukes. Size,
coloration and a distinct dorsal hump with successive small tubercles along the
dorsal aspect of the tail stock pointed to it being a sperm whale and
excitement was high, it being the first occasion when this species was sighted
by IMMRAC staff. Some features being "wrong" with the head and the
blow-hole were dismissed and the first report to the Media upon return to shore
was of a sperm whale.
Closer inspection
of the photographs back home showed quite a lot of head in front of an elevated
blowhole, flukes unlike those of a sperm whale, unwrinkled and
white-patched skin, all leading to the incredible but inescapable conclusion
that it was indeed a grey whale!
It was last spotted
off Jaffa, still in a southward direction.
Comments and
suggestions of how it got here and what are his chances of surviving would be
more than welcome.
Aviad
Scheinin Dan Kerem
Contact e-mail: scheinin@013.net.il
A few pictures are
attached
Photographs:
Dr. Aviad Scheinin
__________________________________________________________________
Aviad Scheinin, Ph.D
scheinin@013.net.il
Chairman, IMMRAC - Israel Marine Mammal
Research & Assistance center
ECS
council member
Home address: Tirat Shalom, P.B. 1356,
Nes-Ziona 74052, Israel
Tel 972-8-9406584 Mobile 052-3571193
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