- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: TOURISTS VISIT HERMANUS TOWN TO OBSERVE ANNUAL WHALE GATHERING.
- Date: 15th September 1995
- Summary: HERMANUS, SOUTH EAST CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (SEPTEMBER 15, 1995) (REUTERS TELEVISION - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV SIGN OUTSIDE HERMANUS TOWN 0.02 2. GV WIDE OF TOWN SEA 0.04 3. SLV PEOPLE LOOKING AT WHALE CLOSE TO SHORE 0.09 4. SLV/GV WHALE LEAPING OUT OF WATER/ TOURISTS WATCH, MAN WITH BINOCULARS (2 SHOTS) 0.25 5. SLV WH
- Embargoed: 30th September 1995 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: HERMANUS, SOUTH EAST CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
- City:
- Country: South Africa
- Topics:
- Reuters ID: LVA1QNC1P60Q5OEAF3VLU940OWO4
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Hundreds of tourists visited the South African town of Hermanus, near Cape Town, on Friday (September 15) to watch the annual gathering of of whales prior to their migration.
The site draws tourists from around the world at this time of year as the whales feed on an abundant supplies of krill before their journey.
For up to two weeks the whales can be seen flicking their tails, rolling and leaping out of the water.
The whales are mainly "Southern Right Whales", who get their name from the fact that when harpooned they do not sink but tend to float on the surface of the ocean making it easier for the whalers to retrieve the dead whale.
They also have abundant blubber, which led them to be regarded as the "right" whale to hunt.
The Southern Right Whales migrate annually from the south pole to give birth to their young in the bays around the Cape Peninsula.
The calving period is usually between August and November.
Experts estimate that around 20 percent of the world's whale population are born in the waters around the Cape.
But for tourists, this time provides the opportunity to enjoy the sight of one of the world's largest mammals at play.
Inge Edenberg from Sweden says they are "very fascinating." She had seen whales in Norway previously but had to travel by boat to get to them.
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