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22 August 2018
Snug as a bug in a rug Last week, on a chilly winter’s afternoon 48 eager Grade 2 learners from Lukhanyo Primary School arrived as usual for their afternoon Shine reading session. Greeted by the familiar, smiling faces of the volunteers who work with them, they drifted into the classroom chatting to one another and sat down. But then, silence.
Local resident, photographer, artist, writer and conservationist Duncan Butchart took this wonderful photograph of a white (brindled) Southern Right Whale from the Cliff Path just east of town on Sunday.
Record whale count on Cape South Coast
W
ith all the bad news and negativity in the media, especially when it comes to the state of our marine resources, it's great to be able to share something rather more uplifting. On Saturday, with a one-day weather gap between frontal systems along the Cape South Coast, it was the perfect opportunity to conduct an aerial whale survey for the Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit. Early in the morning, wearing multiple layers of warm clothing plus a flight suit, gloves and windbreaker, I lifted off from Morning Star Airfield into the crisp clear air. The farm fields were covered in a light frost as I passed overhead on my way to the coast at Hawston, where I landed to collect whale scientist Chris Wilkinson. After lifting off again we encountered the first Southern Right whales almost immediately, hardly surprising since the area between the Klein River lagoon mouth and De Kelders is one of the known hotspots for these gentle giants. The area yielded a count of 107 whales, 41 cow/calf pairs and 25 unaccompanied adults. There were
a few more whales at Pearly Beach, Die Dam and Agulhas and then another big group between Struisbaai and Arniston.
the mountains at Sir Lowry's Pass in a rising westerly wind before dropping back down and heading home after nearly 7 hours in the air.
The next hotspot was at the De Hoop Collection Nature Reserve, from Skipskop Point to Lekkerwater, where we spotted an incredible 1 116 whales, or 558 cow/calf pairs, highlighting the fact that Koppie Alleen is without question the most important nursery area for Southern Right whales on the South African coast. There were also several large great white sharks swimming amongst the whales and calves.
Later on I received a message from Els Vermeulen, head of the Whale Unit, to let me know the final numbers: 661 cow/ calf pairs plus 25 unaccompanied adults, for a total of 1 347 Southern Right whales counted between Hawston and Witsand! This is almost triple the amount of whales counted at nearly the same time (first week of September) in the same area in 2017, and a new alltime record for Southern Right whales counted along our coast!
From here to Cape Infanta there were quite a few more mothers and calves spread out along the coast and then another 60 whales in St. Sebastian Bay, clustered mainly around the Breede River mouth and further east towards the Duiwenhoks River mouth. We terminated the survey at Witsand but could still see many more Southern Rights along the coast further to the east. After dropping Chris back at Hawston I climbed up to 4 000 ft, crossing
What was this? They were confronted with a dazzling array of warm, woolly scarves in every possible colour. Before they could get over their surprise, they were invited to choose the one they liked best for themselves! Suddenly sunshine broke out all over the wintry afternoon! The Enlighten Chapter of the Shine project has been operating at Lukhanyo since 2015. Its objective is to generate a love of reading and of books in children from the earliest age and, in particular, to assist children who are struggling with English reading and comprehension to reach a higher level of competence. Under the leadership of Enlighten Education Trust’s Rothea Kleynhans, 26 volunteers and the
learners work through a year-long weekly programme of fun activities, on the basis of one adult to two children. Not only do they build up a close relationship with one another and achieve exceptional results, but there is a wonderful flowering of selfconfidence in the children. During the recent unrest, they were unable to continue with their sessions and the volunteers cast about for something constructive to do for the children while they were separated. Then Rothea came upon a post by social activist, Gillian Hahn on the ‘Hermanus has Heart’ Facebook page, calling for volunteers to knit scarves for the children of Zwelihle. Rothea immediately contacted her and together they all worked on the project to provide a scarf for each of the Shine children. Judging by the smiley faces of both learners and volunteers, it was a major hit! If you, too, would like to become a member of this happy band of Shine volunteers, even on a back-up basis when someone is away, please contact Rothea on 082 327353. – Elaine Davie
A big thank you to all who made the survey possible, especially African Wings who displayed amazing airmanship and graciously halted one of their tours so we could move through the area, and as always to Michael Raimondo from Green Renaissance. – Jean Tresfon, Marine Conservation Photographer. Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, 19 August.
Grade 2 learners from Lukhanyo Primary with their new scarves that were knitted by the Shine volunteers, in collaboration with Gillian Hahn and ‘Hermanus has Heart’.
