Check-out These Whales Approach A Paddle Boarder

A stand-up paddle boarder had a magical experience of the coast and Western Australia when he came across a couple of Southern right whales who seemed to be curious about his presence. The footage of the encounter was captured by a drone operated by Jaimen Hudson and shows Dave Price paddling alongside the endangered whales who he said approached him after he ventured beyond the breakers.

“Dave Price, who lives close by, was just making his way over to the whales on his stand-up board and they were really inquisitive and came over to meet him. There was one time when the whales lifted their heads up [and] looked up over Pricey’s board. They were so inquisitive and wanted to know what he was.” Mr. Hudson told ABC Esperance.

The Southern right whale can weigh as much as 60 tons and measure about 55 feet. The species was hunted almost into extinction, and the current population of the cost of Australia numbers roughly 2,500 with an estimated global population of 12,000. Paddle boarders are often criticised for approaching large whales far too closely. This is because whales are powerful animals and could pose a danger.