Whale watcher tracks rare visitor to Whangarei Harbour

Northland's international orca expert Ingrid Visser found herself following another species of whale up the Whangarei Harbour yesterday.

A southern right whale was sighted off Urquharts Bay, near the entrance to the harbour, at about 1pm.

Dr Visser followed the 14m whale as it fed.

She is keeping a close watch on the 40-tonne specimen today to prevent it from stranding.

Dr Visser said it was the first southern right whale she had seen in the harbour.

Marine mammal biologist Martin Cawthorn said southern right whales were accustomed to moving about in shallow waters and habitually swam into harbours.

Their confidence in shallow waters nearly saw the species killed off in 1840 as they were easy targets for whale hunters.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)