Whale season ends for 2019 as much-loved mammals depart Fleurieu shores
Another exciting whale season has come to an end, with a number of much loved mammals recently departing the shores of the Fleurieu.
The highlight of the season was the birth of two southern right calves, Fletcher and Emmett, who delighted audiences from near and far, while they frolicked in Encounter Bay waters.
Citizen scientists from Encounter Whales keenly monitored their progress during their stay.
Fletcher was born around July 3, to returning mother Anu, who previously calved on the South Coast in July 2014.
Fletcher spent a total of 100 days in the area, setting a new record for a calf.
Emmett, who remained in Encounter Bay waters for about 60 days, was born on August 11, to another returning mother, Nettie, who previously calved in the area during July 2016.
Both pairs were active in the region up until mid October and were mainstays throughout the season, regularly being sighted within the Encounter Bay whale nursery.
They generated a swathe of interest with many dedicated whale watchers following their every move from day-to-day.
The whales are now venturing onward to sub-Antarctic feeding grounds, where they will remain for the upcoming summer months, feasting on krill.
Calves are weaned at about 11-12 months old, and some have even been known to return to southern Australian waters the following year.
Mothers will generally not return to the Encounter Bay nursery for three to four years until they are ready to calve once more, as was the case with Anu and Nettie this year.
Each year, approximately 400,000 visitors travel to the South Coast in the hope of catching a glimpse of whales, promoting tourism and injecting up to $26 million in visitor expenditure into the local economy, according to the SA Whale Centre.
There were about 60 whale sightings across the South Coast during this year's whale season which typically runs between May and October.