Comments on: Welcoming the whales in Watamu – a first for Kenya!

By: the muzungu

the muzungu — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 14:25:48 +0000

Fantastic to see that CNN Travel has written about whale-watching and the Twin Migration. Kudos to Jane Spilsbury, Steve Trott, Mike Mwang’ombe, Watamu Marine Association and the local fishing and tourism communities!
“Up until recently, most travelers, and even some locals, had no inkling of the aquatic mammals that occupy or pass through Kenya’s waters.
Known as a safari destination, with the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara between July and September considered its pinnacle, the African nation’s expansive marine life was something only fishermen knew the true extent of.
But largely thanks to the efforts of a former lawyer from London, the country now has a burgeoning marine tourism industry, with tourists seeking out the coastal town of Watamu, located 140 kilometers north of Mombasa, for its humpback whales.
The tide began to turn around 10 years ago, when Jane Spilsbury, who had been living in Watamu with her marine biologist husband for several years, began hearing tales from local fishermen of dolphin and whales sightings.
Determined to prove their existence, the pair spent six months boarding local fishing boats armed with just a few scraps of paper and a cheap camera in order to document and photograph any visible evidence.”
Read “The woman who helped reveal whale migration in Kenya” by Ashleigh Stewart, CNN Travel.
Updated 6th January 2021
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/whales-in-kenya-scn/index.html

By: the muzungu

the muzungu — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 11:35:35 +0000

If you're interested in the ocean, check out this gorgeous graphic from Wildlife Conservation Society all about sharks and coral reefs. It explains how "Healthy sharks equal healthy oceans."

By: the muzungu

the muzungu — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 15:27:23 +0000

In reply to Fehima. LOL yes those teeth do look a bit like bananas! (Not very easy to peel tho!)

By: Fehima

Fehima — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 08:44:36 +0000

Amazing pictures, what amazing creatures. At first, I thought you were holding bananas 😀 Thank you for this post.

By: the muzungu

the muzungu — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 07:40:40 +0000

In reply to Jane Spilsbury. Fascinating to hear live updates from the ocean! Will be following events closely on your Facebook page! With love from the forest x

By: Jane Spilsbury

Jane Spilsbury — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 14:18:30 +0000

Hello from Watamu Marine Association who are welcoming the whales in Watamu Kenya,
We have been studying the humpback whale migration for the last 7 years and enjoyed sharing the experience with guests. An interesting situation has arisen this year when the whales appear to be delayed in their migration. We believe it maybe caused by the warming temperatures in the Antarctic which has affected the whales’ favorite food, krill which is no longer widely available. For expectant or would be mums, it is important that they all bulked up for the 5000 km journey to Kenya, especially when they are also feeding baby, so they may have stayed in their feeding grounds a little later than normal
Currently the whales are still in South Africa and maybe on their way in numbers in the next few weeks. We will keep you informed from the ocean!
Certainly whales are smart mammals and know what’s best for them