Whale watching on the Indian Ocean island of Réunion may be a victim of its own success after a series of run-ins between a female humpback and over-eager divers seizing a rare chance to swim with the creatures.
Since the start of the season in June this year, scientists have recorded some 230 humpback whales have been counted in the area and on Oct. 17, it was a mother and her calf that were attracting the attention of several tourist boats.
But according to local conservationists, too often the spotters do not respect guidelines, provoking one agitated female to take swipes with her fins, which can be up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) wide for some in the species.
“It’s a clear signal and coming from a 30-tonne (33 tons) animal, it can result in fatal accidents,” said Olivier Hoarau, a conservationist from the CEDTM research and protection center dubbed the “tranquility brigade” which is financed by local authorities.
He regularly participates in patrols that swoop in on tourists who break the rules, and he said that since June they have approached 500 boats and that only one in four follows the rules.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that French-owned Réunion island is one of the rare sites where swimming with whales is allowed.
Whale watching is a major draw for tourists and has increased in recent years, prompting authorities to set up the “tranquility brigade” last year to protect local sea life.
The whale season is now coming to an end and will have lasted nearly six months.
