A humpback whale surprised boat tourists off the coast of Newport Beach (California) for days with meters-high and wild jumps. Marine biologists had no idea why the animal went berserk. Until a professional nature photographer came up with the answer.
The humpback whale, behemoths that can grow up to 55 feet long and weigh 30 tons, was the star of Newport Beach for days. Tourists queued up to board one of the many tourist boats off the coast in search of the enormous animal. The whale fish made meter-high jumps near the boats, after which ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ resounded on all sides and the cameras clicked continuously. As if he wanted to put on a show.
Marine biologists themselves had no explanation why the animal suddenly became so active and came so close to the boats.
Until Mark Girardeau, one of the nature photographers who went out on the water to photograph the humpback whale, viewed his images. With his enormous telephoto lens he took images that showed a rope wrapped around one of its large pectoral fins that also passed through its mouth, possibly from fishing nets.
By making such jumps and then landing back in the water with a loud thud, the animal may have hoped that the rope would come loose. Because it must undoubtedly have hindered his eating.
It is not clear whether he was eventually freed from the rope. After providing a spectacle for a few days, the animal was no longer seen.
Experts are still trying to track down the marine mammal so that they can help him if necessary.