Rare whale visitor gives us a wave

The right whale can be recognised by the giant calluses on its head, unique to the species. Picture / Greg Bowker

Waiheke Islanders were treated to some giant-sized acrobatics yesterday as one of the world's rarest whales decided to linger at a popular swimming beach.

Around 20 people watched the 12m southern right whale - so-named by early whalers because its slow swimming and tendency to float after killed made it the "right" whale to catch - rolling on its back, flipping upside down and slapping the water with its tail close to shore.

Department of Conservation staff monitored the whale into the evening, hoping to get a skin sample using a small dart gun. From his Auckland office DoC spokesman Bill Trusewich asked staff on the boat how big the whale was. "They said 'bloody big' because at that moment it was under the boat."

A skin sample would be used for genetic identification to find out whether the whale belonged to a highly endangered sub-population from the Auckland Islands, he said. The group numbers about 30.

Southern right whales migrate between the Auckland Islands and the tropics in spring and autumn. They are easily identified by the giant calluses on the head, unique to the species.

Mr Trusewich pleaded with boaties to keep their distance if the whale decided to hang around.

"This is a rare animal, and we'd really like to make sure people don't harass it."

* Right whale females are about 16.5m long, males about 15.2m.

* Weigh 40-80 tonnes.

* Live about 50 years.

* Two species - southern and northern.

* Eat plankton and krill (tiny shrimp-like crustaceans).

* Have two blowholes.

* Named by whalers, because they were the "right" whales to hunt - rich in blubber, easy to catch, and floated after being killed.