Whale watching going full blast down South

Chitral Jayatilake

Sri Lanka’s whale watching industry, now in its fourth season has established itself well as a wildlife viewing spectacle in the world. Later in December, many boats rushed to Mirissa and the season was steaming ahead.

Mirissa has caught the cetacean world’s attention and there is a steady flow of whale watching tourists flocking to the South in their eagerness to see the largest animal on earth.

Kolitha was out at sea, at the brink of the Southern whale watching season as early as in October, with a special guest, ex WWF photographer Roger Hooper on safari with Nature Trails.

Eight miles at sea, the first Blue whale appeared and gave Roger the experience he dreamt of for many years. Within minutes the team spotted a second Blue whale making Roger’s Island safari complete with all species on a check list ticked off to perfection.

Last week of December was exciting at Mirissa, as the season’s first sighting of sperm whales was made by Sampath from Chaaya Tranz on December 30.

Seventeen sperm whales logging next to the vessels made a great experience. The social behaviour of sperm whales and their curious nature brings them very close to boats while spying hoping whales turn sideways and look at the whale watchers almost investigating the boats.

The season down South is under-way while the Nature Trails teams are busy readying themselves for a similar experience up in Trinco later this year. The season in Trinco begins later than in Mirissa, and the Nature Trails team based at Chaaya Blu is ready to welcome these great ocean travellers for yet another season.

The team up in Trinco headed by Daya is excited on this year’s prospects, with the monsoon easing out and conditions beginning to turn ideal, a long whale watching season is under-way, your Island safari now doesn’t end at the beach, an array of marine mammals awaits you beyond the shores of Sri Lanka.