Southern Right Whale

A southern right whales taken in the Tasman Peninsula one blowing air and water out of its blowhole
Image: DPIPWE
Community type

Pelagic reef organisms

Habitat type

Rocky reefs, kelp beds and inter-tidal zone

Southern Right Whales are migratory and can be seen around Tasmania between May and December each year. They migrate from the cold, nutrient rich waters of Antarctica to the warmer waters within Tasmania and Australian mainland for breeding and calving. They were once abundant visitors to the Derwent Estuary, but they were subject to intense whaling during the 1800s–1900s, and in 2020 there estimated to only be 268 individuals in the southeastern Australian sub-population. Southern right whales can sometimes be seen in the Derwent Estuary, resting with their calves during winter months.

Much of the text within the species area of our website was written by Veronica Thorpe, as part of the Derwent River Wildlife Guide (2000).

The DEP has developed a variety of classroom and outdoor activities, including classroom materials, online resources, interpretive walks, games and sensory experience. These are focused around the key estuary habitats.