Niagara and Kelpie ḰENES & T019s KELȽOLEMEĆEN

May 21, 2025

Niagara

Niagara

Spouter T019C and mom Nootka T019

Kelpie

Kelpie

T019B Galiano

On May 21, 2025 our team got notice of a humpback and calf in Swanson Channel. This would be our first ḰENES calf sighting of the year, so we attended the area to monitor this special little whale. While looking for mama and calf, we encountered two different ḰENES, Kelpie and Niagara! We stayed with them while they transited North in Swanson Channel, to alert ferries and fly our whale flag to prevent vessel strike. After radioing two ferries to inform them of the whales in the area and receiving acknowledgement, they did not slow down or alter their route, a disappointing reality that BC ferries’ schedule is more important than the well being of whales in their path.
After obtaining ID photos, and with no ferries en route, we left these two to continue their journey.

We then headed towards Spieden channel, where we were observing a cluster of whale watching vessels on our charts. Upon arriving, we encountered T019s, brothers Spouter and Galiano, and mom Nootka. These whales headed Northwest, around the top of Spieden Island and we left them after obtaining ID photos to reduce our own vessel disturbance.

All photos are taken with a 200-600 zoom lens.