Below are photos of whales in Gia Lai taken by various photographers.

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Over the past weeks, local fishermen have reported sightings of three whales near Nhon Hai and Vung Boi areas in Gia Lai Province (former Binh Dinh Province).

On the morning of July 3, whales reappeared near De Gi Port in Gia Lai from around 6.30 a.m. to 8.00 a.m.

Thanh Tuan, a photographer from Ho Chi Minh City, shared that he was in Lam Dong photographing forest birds when divers tipped him off about the whales in De Gi. He immediately set off to “hunt” for the images. Having missed multiple whale sightings in recent years, he was determined this time to get a good shot.
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Locals reported seeing three whales in total, including two adults and one calf. Some believe that the calf was born in this area, which could explain why the adults keep returning during breeding season.

Fishermen track whales by watching seabirds, as the two species often hunt together. Once the whales herd fish into a tight group, they dive and then surge upward with open mouths to catch their prey. At that moment, many fish leap from the water and seabirds swoop in from above to feed.
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On the morning of July 3, two whales, a large one and a smaller one, were spotted. They were about 2km offshore, and boats stopped roughly 100 meters from the hunting zone.
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The image is of a whale calf, estimated to be around 6 meters long. According to Tuan, the whales look quite similar and are difficult to distinguish from a distance.
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Tuan said, the larger whale hunted with powerful movements, while the smaller one seemed less energetic and rarely breached high above the surface. “Their mouths look like giant baskets when they feed,” Tuan remarked.
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According to the Center for Biodiversity and Endangered Species Conservation (CBES), the whales seen in the area belong to the Bryde’s whale species (Balaenoptera edeni), a rare marine mammal. Unlike many other whale species that live in large pods, Bryde’s whales often hunt alone or in small family groups.

Since 2022, Bryde’s whales have frequently been seen swimming along the coastal waters of the former Binh Dinh Province, including Vung Boi (Phu My), De Gi (Phu Cat), Hon Seo (Quy Nhon City), and Mui Ganh (Hoai Nhon Township).

Since June this year, the whales have returned and continued hunting in Phu My and Nhon Hai.
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Many local fishermen believe the frequent whale appearances are a sign that these waters are clean and rich in food, making them ideal for hunting and breeding.

Source: Vnexpress

Translated by Tran Hoai