A humpback calf with a deep gash near its dorsal fin has been identified as a whale that was struck by a high-speed ferry off the coast of Vancouver.
Naturalist Sarah Jenkins of Wild Whales Vancouver spotted a humpback whale and an injured calf on Monday.
Photos she took show a large wound near the calf's dorsal fin.
A few days earlier, on October 17, a high-speed ferry collided with a humpback whale near Vancouver in English Bay.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) confirmed to CBC News that the injured animal has been identified as calf BCX1193 Zig Zag.
“Given the severity of the injury, it will be important to monitor the animal's recovery,” a DFO spokesperson said.
Naturalist Julia Adelsheim also photographed Zig Zag and her calf off Vancouver the day before the October 16 whale attack.
“There would be a lot of coincidences if it wasn’t the whale that got hit,” Adelsheim said.
The injured calf was photographed just a few kilometers from where the ship struck.
“This whale didn't have that a few days ago, so I think that's the best confirmation we can give,” Adelsheim said.
Photos of Jenkins and Adelsheim were published by the Pacific Whale Watching Association in a social media post.
DFO said in a written statement after the incident that Hullo Ferries informed the department of the collision and upon contact the whale was observed to be swimming north.
Vancouver Island Ferry, which operates Hullo Ferries, said in a statement that its vessel Spuhels “likely came into contact with a whale” during its planned voyage.
“Upon sighting the mammal, the bridge crew immediately took evasive action and performed an emergency stop maneuver in accordance with safety procedures,” the statement said.
Jackie Hildering, from the Marine Education and Research Society, said it was difficult to say whether the calf would survive.
“We don't know what the internal damage is, we don't know what the fitness of the whale is,” Hildering said.
She said there is a lot that can be done to prevent whales from striking ships.
“Understanding humpback behavior and education can make a huge difference,” Hildering said. “They travel unpredictably; they don’t walk mindlessly along the coast.”
These humpback whales have been feeding in the area for some time, she said.
“It is absolutely necessary to increase vigilance,” Hildering said.
A BC Ferries vessel may have encountered a humpback whale in northern British Columbia on Wednesday evening. The whale was found dead by researchers in an area where the ferry said it may have made contact.
DFO said the Pacific Whale Watching Association has been a valuable partner in providing sighting information from its members during this important period.
Hildering said Zig Zag's 2021 calf was also hit by a boat last year, and her first 2019 calf suffered entanglement-related injuries. Of her four calves, three were injured and one was possibly missing.
“This is unfortunate for everyone involved,” Adelsheim said. “Hopefully the calf will be strong enough to survive. There are whales in the Salish Sea that have had some pretty serious injuries and are still alive.”
Zig Zag's calf, Skipper, was likely born this winter, and calves often stay with their mother during their first year.
“Very often, when whales die, they simply sink to the bottom of the ocean; they disappear with their stories and reality,” Hildering said. “These terrible scars on my calf, I hope people care.”
