Kakadu is famous for its crocs, birds and barramundi. And now, it can lay claim to a few humpback whales too. A few of the gentle giants have been winding their way along the East Alligator River. It's brought delight to the scientists who stumbled across them, but raised concerns about a whale stranding.
Marine ecologist Jason Fowler was out fishing with friends on his boat in Kakadu's East Alligator River when he got a whale-sized surprise.Humpback whales have been spotted in Kakadu National Park for the first time in recorded history
Mr Fowler was on his yacht, the Shaguar, with a group of biologist friends when they first saw the whale, on September 2.He said the boatload of biologists could not believe their eyes when they first saw three humpback whales so far from home. "We think the whales were spending time in the deeper section of the river gathering up fish", he said.
Kakadu National Park staff, alongside scientists from the NT Government, have monitored the whales since they started travelling through the river early last week. "If the whale strands up on a sandbar or become injured somehow, that could kick start off the crocodiles, but it's a very big 14-metre whale," she said.Dr Palmer said the team was looking into how other river-bound whales could be moved, such as making loud noises on boats to encourage them to swim downstream.
Carol Palmer said it was the first time in recorded history that humpback whales had been sighted so far up the river system in Kakadu National Park.
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