A young humpback whale with a significant wound close to its dorsal fin has been recognized as the whale that collided with a high-speed ferry in the vicinity of Vancouver. Sara Jenkins, a naturalist from Wild Whales Vancouver, noticed the humpback whale and its injured calf on Monday. Images she took display a large gash near the calf’s dorsal fin. The incident took place a few days earlier on October 17 when a high-speed ferry struck a humpback whale in English Bay near Vancouver.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) confirmed to CBC News that the injured whale is the calf of BCX1193 Zig Zag. A spokesperson from DFO highlighted the importance of monitoring the healing progress of the animal due to the severity of the injury. Julia Adelsheim, another naturalist, photographed Zig Zag and her calf off Vancouver on October 16, a day before the collision. Adelsheim expressed that it would be highly improbable for the injured calf not to be the same whale that was hit, considering the circumstances.
The injured calf was spotted only a few kilometers away from where the vessel collision occurred. Photos taken by Jenkins and Adelsheim were shared by the Pacific Whale Watch Association on social media platforms. DFO reported that Hullo Ferries informed the department about the collision and that the whale was seen swimming north following the incident.
Jackie Hildering from the Marine Education and Research Society mentioned the uncertainty surrounding the calf’s survival due to potential internal injuries and the whale’s overall fitness. She stressed the importance of understanding humpback behavior and enhancing education to reduce the risk of vessel strikes, especially since these humpback whales have been present in the area for some time.
Hildering also noted that Zig Zag’s calf from 2021 was struck by a vessel last year, and her first calf from 2019 has entanglement injuries, indicating a pattern of harm to her offspring. Despite the challenges, there have been instances where whales with severe injuries have managed to survive. The injured calf, nicknamed Skipper, is believed to have been born recently and typically remains with its mother for the first year. Hildering emphasized the significance of acknowledging the plight of these wounded animals as they struggle to survive against the odds.
