Populations of southern right whales plummeted as a result of commercial whaling.
Susan Crocetti, the marine wildlife team leader with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, said the south-eastern population had not recovered to the same extent as populations off the coast of Western Australia, which were estimated to number about 3,000 individuals.
“Our population is under 300 we and don’t fully know why,” she said. “There just isn’t a critical mass and momentum in the population for them to have recovered.”
Southern right whales migrate from Antarctica each year to breed and calve in waters off the Australian east coast from about May until September or October, with the peak around July.
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NBN News | WALLIS LAKE WHALE HEADS BACK OUT TO SEA
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A huge whale has been spotted swimming within metres of a busy overpass at a popular tourist destination.
Wallis Lake, which separates Forster and Tuncurry in the NSW mid north coast, became a playground for the massive southern right whale on June 30.
A video shows the mammal paddling underneath the bridge with commuters on the Forster Tuncurry bridge watching in awe.
Hundreds of locals and holidayer-goes congregated on the banks of the lake to get a glimpse of the beautiful whale.
The southern right whale was spotted in Wallis Lake (pictured) as commuters on the Forster Tuncurry Bridge watched on in amazement