Humpback whale cow and calf
My Dad, Gerry Sanger, is a retired marine biologist and has been taking people out on the Prince William Sound, as part of his business, Sound Eco Adventures. The Sound is a truly beautiful place — as we often say, it would be a treasured national park if it were in any other state, but since it’s in Alaska, it’s just a national forest with some marine parks thrown in. It so happens I personally know the western Sound pretty well, having visited it since I was eight or so, and having worked there for my Dad for I think eight summers. But my Dad is a true expert about the Sound, its wildlife, and the interpretation thereof.
Anyway, a passenger posted this video to YouTube in which a humpback whale cow and calf come literally within a few feet of the boat. This is amazing to watch on video and even more amazing to experience, but it isn’t that uncommon of an experience on my Dad’s boat, the Sound Access, actually. The whales are clearly curious about the boat, and have gotten used to it somewhat.
Nice. They’re amazing creatures. My wife and I went on a whaling tour off Cape Cod a few years ago. Not as intimate a setting as this one, but pretty thrilling all the same. I gather whales aren’t afraid of people as long as we don’t give them any reason to be.
Comment by Tom Panelas — March 18, 2009 @ 12:13 pm