Rare Whale Sighting Near Maui

Residents and visitors near Maui got a rare whale sighting this week, when a pod of 50-70 melon-headed whales was spotted swimming close to shore.

Whale watching is a popular tourist activity in Hawaii, and the sighting of the melon-headed whales was a special treat for those who were lucky enough to witness it. These whales are typically seen in deeper water, so seeing them so close to shore was a surprise for many.

The melon-headed whale is a small but distinctive looking whale that is easy to identify by its round head and bulbous body. They are found in tropical and subtropical waters across the world, and are classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The whales spotted near Maui were likely on their way to warmer waters in the south, but stopped off in Hawaii for a quick visit before continuing on their journey. It's unclear why they chose to come so close to shore, but residents and visitors were definitely happy to get a glimpse of these beautiful creatures.

Pod of Whales Spotted Near Dana Point

In a rare sighting Monday morning, a pod of three gray whales was spotted off the coast of Dana Point.

The pod was first seen around 7:15 a.m. by whale watchers aboard the Dana Pride II, captained by Dave Anderson. The whales were approximately one-third of a mile from the harbor entrance and appeared to be feeding, according to Anderson.

"I've never seen them this close to shore," said Anderson. "It was pretty amazing."

According to Capt. Chuck Patterson of Capt. Chuck's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari, the last time he saw a pod of gray whales this close to shore was in 1997.

"This is definitely an unusual sighting, especially this early in the season," said Patterson.

Gray whales are typically spotted off Orange County's coast between December and April as they migrate south to Baja California and back again during their annual calving season. The whales spotted on Monday were likely on their way north, officials said.

Huge Whale calf Freed from Netting in Dutch Harbor

On July 10, 2017, a huge whale calf became ensnared in some netting in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The calf was struggling to get free and it looked like it was in serious trouble. Fortunately, a team of rescuers arrived on the scene and were able to free the whale from the netting.

The calf is said to be about 25 feet long and is believed to be a sperm whale. This is only the second time that a sperm whale has been spotted in Dutch Harbor. It's unclear how the calf ended up getting tangled in the netting, but thankfully it was freed before any serious harm could be done.

This incident serves as a reminder of just how powerful these animals can be and also how delicate they are at the same time. The rescuers who freed this calf should be applauded for their efforts.

Gray Whale Calf Born in Southern California

A gray whale calf was born in Southern California recently, according to researchers from the NOAA. The calf was spotted swimming near San Diego with its mother on January 24th.

The gray whale is a migratory species that can be found in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. They usually migrate along the coastlines, but can also be found in open water. Gray whales can grow up to 50 feet long and weigh about 36,000 pounds.

Gray whale calves are typically born in late winter or early spring, and they are approximately 13 feet long and weigh 1,000 pounds. Calves nurse for about six months and are then weaned off of their mother's milk. They remain with their mothers for another year or so, until they become independent and start to migrate on their own.

The birth of this calf is an important event for the species, as there are only about 26,000 gray whales left in the world. Habitat degradation, hunting, and entanglement in fishing gear are some of the biggest threats to this species.

Baby Whale Rescued off Coast of Turkey

Tourists on a boat off the coast of Turkey came to the rescue of a baby whale stranded on the shore. The whale was brought back out to sea and is thought to have swum away.

The baby whale was first noticed by a group of tourists on a boat near Cesme, Turkey. The whale was close to shore and appeared to be stranded. The tourists notified local authorities who arrived on the scene to help.

Lifeguards attempted to push the whale back into deeper water, but it was unsuccessful. The whale was later lifted onto a truck and taken to the beach. There, it was placed in the water and appeared to swim away.

It is unknown why the baby whale became stranded on the shore. Baby whales are typically found in colder waters, but this one may have been lost or confused.