Humpback Mugging

The humpback in this image I know very well. It's name is T-Rex.

I took this image during a behaviour that we call "mugging". Mugging is when whales approach boats seeking interaction. This behaviour is caused by whale petting tours that take place in regions like Mexico, where this whale resides in the wintertime. This behaviour is dangerous for the health and safety of both the whales and boaters alike. Risk of collision is already high in many areas where they reside, in fact the leading cause of death for these whales is vessel collision. This is the reason that BC has laws regarding viewing distance. We must stay 100 meters away parallel to them. In most viewing situations I find I'm most comfortable from around 150m-200m. At 100 meters it can be difficult to give the whales space if they turn abruptly. In over 300 tours over four years I have only been mugged twice. Both times it has been this whale. This photo was taken earlier this year in "whale passage" a narrow heavy traffic waterway, in Sutil channel. I had been watching it for a few minutes from a distance when it and BCY000 suddenly surfaced 30 meters in front of me. In these scenarios, the best course of action is turn off your motors and NOT to interact with the whale. As much as I try to avoid it, In this situation there was no possible action of avoidance. As a vessel operator, we are responsible for the safety of not only ourselves, but of the oceans wildlife as well. Watching your speed in high density areas, and always keeping an eye out for whales even if you are not looking to view are important things to do when travelling through the whales world. The two whales in this Situation rolled around at the surface a few meters from the boat for 15 min before returning to their feeding behaviour. Generally I don’t like sharing images of close encounters with wildlife since it can cause unrealistic expectations for guests coming on tour. however I believe education is also very important for the well being of not just our whales but our ecosystems. If you appreciate this image please consider buying a print. 15% of all proceeds will go to Whale conservation. You can order prints HERE