dorsal area on their skin - no one has been
able to take a sample yet. And there are other
indications, like changes in the population
and the migration patterns. For example,
this year there was significant changes to
the migration times - a very early arrival to
the northern areas and a very early return
trip. We have been having more and more
calves born around the Gold Coast, and even
though this is good news in many respects, it
also reveals that the population is undergoing
change, and change always means pressure
on the animals. We would expect that not
only is there an increase in the stress levels,
but also potential for a reduction in the ability
of the immune systems in the whales - much
like a stressed out person working overtime
can often be more susceptible to getting sick
when the flu season arrives. I think that by us
looking closely into their respiratory system,
we can actually get a good understanding of
if there’s actually something wrong with the
population.
“We can only act on things that we know
exist, right? People say to me ‘well why do
you want to know?’ - well if we don’t know,
and suddenly the whales are just not there
“We have been
having more and
more calves born
around the Gold
Coast”
LiQUiFY | 43