Whale Calf Collision Injury

This new season Humpback calf has survived what must have been a painful and horrific injury during its first few weeks of life. This one metre gash is the result of a shipping collision - this could have been a recreational or commercial vessel but underpins the need for caution in whale nursery or rest areas. This photograph was taken by Pam Osborn on September 12 in Exmouth Gulf during a photographic survey of the humpback population using the Gulf as a rest area before the long Southern migration to Antarctica.