KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 – Seafarers and tourists have been warned not to go near or make contact with whales and other marine mammals that they encounter in open waters following a recent rare sighting near the holiday island of Pulau Redang, reported The Sun quoting an expert.
Universiti Putra Malaysia department of biology, faculty of science senior lecturer Dr Wan Mohd Syazwan Wan Solahudin said it is important to maintain a safe distance in order to prevent stress and potential injury to the animals.
He was commenting on the sighting of a whale believed to be a humpback near Pulau Redang, which is about 45km off the coast of Terengganu, on Sept 14.
A video which has been widely circulated featured some people on a vessel shouting excitedly while venturing closer to the creature whose upper part could be seen above the water.
Wan Mohd Syazwan expressed concern that approaching or touching such animals may disrupt their natural behaviour.
“Pulau Redang is a popular tourism destination. The increased boat traffic poses a risk of collisions with the whales,” he told theSun.
He added that there is also a threat of entanglement in fishing nets and gear, which can be hazardous for the humpback whale.
“Chemical pollution from coastal developments and marine debris such as plastic pollution could adversely affect their health.”
He noted that sightings of whales are quite rare in Malaysia compared with other marine mammals.
However, there have been reports of Bryde’s whales near Langkawi, Omura’s whales in Sabah and Sei whales in the waters off Selangor, Pahang and Johor.
“As for humpback whales, sightings have been recorded in Perak and Sarawak. The recent sighting of a humpback near Pulau Redang could be the first, as far as I am aware.”
Wan Mohd Syazwan said the humpback whale came close to the island for several reasons.
“Changes in ocean currents or water temperature around Pulau Redang may have attracted the whale closer to shore in search of food.”
He said the relatively calm and warm waters there could provide a suitable resting spot during migration.
“Humpback whales are known for their long migrations between feeding grounds in colder waters and breeding grounds in warmer, tropical regions.
“Although Malaysia is not typically part of their usual migration route, it is possible this whale deviated slightly from its normal path, perhaps due to changing environmental conditions and shifts in water temperature,” he said.
He added that humpback whales prefer to give birth in shallow, warm waters commonly near reef systems or shores, and this could also be the case for the one seen near Pulau Redang.
