The Deep South of Sri Lanka is becoming known as one of the world's best locations (amongst the top three possibly) for watching Blue Whales and Sperm Whales - two of the most sought after marine mammals. In fact for seeing both Sperm and Blue Whales together, it may even turn out to be the best location in the world.
It was only recently that the world became aware of the waters off the southern coast of this island nation off the south coast of India - the coastal strip between the ancient city of Galle and the new fishery harbour of Mirissa - as THE best place to watch Whales.
"Whales can be seen with such ease here', says Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, perhaps the man who has done most to put this area on the world watching map, " by just sailing out from the fishery harbour of Mirissa."
Continental Shelf off South Sri Lanka
One of the reasons this area of sea is so good for whale watching is because the continental shelf is at its closest near Mirissa and Dondra, about 6 km aqway from the coast. Due to the calm seas, Sperm Whales and Blue Whales come within sight of the land - and the period between December and April - offers an outstanding window of opportunity for observing these magnificent marine mammals. Marine biologist Dr Charles Anderson believes that sightings peak between December and April because of a migration of whales
Migration of Whales
Dr Anderson has been developing a theory that there is an annual migration of whales between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea which takes them near the shores of Sri Lanka. He believes that the whales, especially Blue Whales and Sperm Whales, travel past the south coast in January from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal. In April, they return past the south coast on the return journey travelling west to the Arabian Sea passing Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
He had first postulated this theory in a paper published in 1999 which reviewed sightings in the Maldives. Having reviewed his records up to mid 2002, a total of over two thousand sightings, he refined his hypothesis further in a paper Observations of cetaceans in the Maldives, 1990-2002 published in 2005 in the 'Journal of Cetacean Research and Management'.
Cetacean Species in Sri Lankan Waters
Sri Lankan waters are very rich in cetacean species with twenty seven species being recorded to date. One hundred and five river systems contribute a steady nutrient flow to the ocean. This together with upwelling at the edge of the continental shelf create ideal conditions to support a food chain all year round in the warm tropical waters. However, to see marine mammals, location and time is all important.
Observes Wijeyeratne," The south of Sri Lanka is blessed with beautiful beaches, snorkelling and some of the best boutique hotels and villas in the tropics. " The deep south of Sri Lanka may be one of the world's best locations (amongst the top three possibly) for watching Blue Whales and Sperm Whales which are two of the most sought after marine mammals. In fact for seeing both Sperm and Blue Whales together, Sri Lanka may even turn out to be the best location in the world ." ).
References:
1. Ilangakoon A. (2002).Whales and Dolphins Sri Lanka (ISBN-10:955911428X)
2. de Silva Wijeyeratne, G.(2008).Best for Blue (SLTPB Edition)
Sanjiva Wijesinha - Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha, Associate Professor at Monash University medical school, writes on health, travel and medical topics.
