A humpback calf with a significant wound near its dorsal fin has been recognized as the whale that was hit by a high-speed ferry in the vicinity of Vancouver. Sara Jenkins, a naturalist with Wild Whales Vancouver, discovered the injured calf alongside a humpback whale on Monday. Images she took reveal a noticeable gash close to the calf’s dorsal fin. The incident of a high-speed ferry striking a humpback whale in English Bay, near Vancouver, occurred on October 17. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) confirmed to CBC News that the injured animal is the calf of BCX1193 Zig Zag.
Expressing concern over the severity of the injury, a DFO spokesperson mentioned the necessity of monitoring the healing progress of the animal. Julia Adelsheim, another naturalist, had photographed Zig Zag and her calf the day before the whale was struck, on October 16. Adelsheim highlighted the unlikelihood of it not being the same whale that was hit, considering the proximity of the injured calf to where the vessel collision took place. The photos taken by Jenkins and Adelsheim were shared by the Pacific Whale Watch Association on social media.
The DFO reported that Hullo Ferries notified the department about the collision, and the whale was observed moving north after the incident. The Vancouver Island Ferry Company, operating Hullo Ferries, mentioned in a statement that their vessel Spuhels likely came into contact with a whale during a routine journey. Jackie Hildering of the Marine Education and Research Society expressed uncertainty regarding the calf’s survival, emphasizing the need to prevent such vessel strikes on whales through better understanding of humpback behavior and enhanced education.
Hildering pointed out the imperative of increased vigilance due to the frequent presence of humpback whales in the area. According to her, Zig Zag’s calf from 2021 was also struck by a vessel last year, and her first calf from 2019 has entanglement injuries. Of her four calves, three have suffered injuries, and one is potentially missing. Adelsheim conveyed hope for the calf’s recovery, noting that some whales with severe injuries manage to survive. Zig Zag’s calf, affectionately known as Skipper, is likely to have been born recently and usually remains with its mother for the first year. Hildering emphasized the importance of caring about the calf’s condition despite the distressing scarring it has endured.
