Tricky Whales Mug Tourists

Normally, tourists don’t enjoy being mugged – by people or animals. However, one group of whale watchers probably didn’t think that they wanted to be mugged by a whale, until it turned out to be one of the coolest experiences of a lifetime!

Recently, a group of adventurers were on a tour with Whale Watching Sydney and learned that when a whale approaches a boat it is called ‘mugging’.  The boat was approximately 9 miles off the coast when a large humpback whale came up for a close encounter. One of the tourist caught some amazing footage of the encounter with his underwater GoPro.

According to Richard Ford, the manager at Whale Watching Sydney, these enormous mammals migrate North to give birth to their offspring and then return South September through December. On the way back, they move at a slow pace to ensure that their young build up enough strength and stamina for upcoming interactions with predators.

It’s during this slower return that the whales are most likely to take their time to investigate curiosities or soak up some sun on the surface. That’s when we are most likely able to witness the awesomeness of these creatures. Good for them and us getting to see this amazing video!

Note, although seeing these wild animals up close and in person is thrilling, it is important to remember the consequences of our actions. If participating in these activities please act responsibly, follow all of the guides’ instructions, and remember that you are visiting their world. Too much human interaction can be detrimental to the animals and their habitat. To read more about the story and see the actual video footage please visit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2740398/The-incredible-moment-humpback-whale-pops-water-look-whale-watching-boat.html.

(Photo Credit: Whale Watching Sidney)