Humpback Whale Sighting in Mochima

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A group of tourists heading from the coast of Puerto La Cruz to the beaches of Chimana Grande Island in Mochima National Park, had the opportunity to see a humpback whale (Megaptera novaengliae), who delighted 8 people aboard a taxi-boat with a show of "games".

A group of tourists heading from the coast of Puerto La Cruz to the beaches of Chimana Grande Island in Mochima National Park, had the opportunity to see a humpback whale (Megaptera novaengliae), who delighted 8 people aboard a taxi-boat with a show of "games".

The taxi-boat, which departed from the Plaza Mayor Shopping Center in Lechería with 6 tourists and 2 crew members, observed the whale in the waters of Mochima National Park at 10:00am on Friday, March 4, halfway between the coasts of Lechería and Chimana Grande Island (about 2 nautical miles from the coast).

Miquel Marin, who was on board the taxi-boat sent us this spectacular photo for everyone’s enjoyment.

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaengliae), also called humpback whale, can reach 12 to 16 meters in length as an adult and weigh up to 36,000 kg. The species has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobby head. It is an acrobatic animal that often jumps on the surface and then strikes the water. Males emit a complex song, which lasts ten to twenty minutes and is repeated for hours at a time. The purpose of the song is unclear, however, it appears to play a role in mating.

Humpbacks feed only during the summer in polar regions and migrate to tropical and subtropical waters to breed and give birth to young during the polar winter. During the winter they fast and subsist on their fat reserves. The species feeds mainly on krill and small fish.

Like other large cetaceans, the humpback whale has been overfished. Its population was reduced by 90% before the moratorium was implemented in 1966. Since then, the population has partially recovered; however, entanglements in fishing gear, ship strikes, and noise pollution continue to be a source of concern. It is estimated to have a global population of at least 80,000 individuals and is currently one of the targets of whale watching programs in Australia, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and South America.

Fundación La Tortuga, as an ally of the "Coalición Venezuela por las Ballenas y Delfines", supports and promotes whale and dolphin watching tourism, so we take this opportunity to call on all users of the majestic Mochima National Park to be active participants in the protection and conservation of this important natural reserve.