Baby whales head to NSW east coast

The world’s biggest newborns are expected to turn the NSW east coast into a whale nursery for the first time in 50 years.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) said a large number of whales with newborn calves in tow were expected to grace the state’s shores soon.

The whale baby boom parade is to make its way slowly south along the coast from this month until November.

NPWS marine fauna program co-ordinator Geoff Ross said this many baby whales had not been seen on the east coast since commercial whaling was banned in Australia in the 1960s.

“It’s taken decades, but we’re starting to see remarkable year-on-year increases in the number of whales migrating along our coastline,” Mr Ross said.

“Our volunteer counters at Cape Solander logged a 17 per cent increase in the number of whales migrating north earlier this year, and whale watching vessels are reporting corresponding increases in the number of calves making the trip back south.

“Migrating whales typically swim further from shore on their southern journey, but the further they go, the closer to shore they get.

“This means the best land-based spots to see family whale pods during October will be in the southern parts of the state.”

NPWS has released the Whales NSW smartphone app to help park visitors find the best places to spot them.

AAP

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