Dyer Island Conservation Trust Unclaimed

THE DYER ISLAND CONSERVATION TRUST was founded in 2006 by Wilfred Chivell

Because they were the right whales to catch, the Southern Right Whale population plunged significantly starting in the late 18th century, right into the 20th century. The whales were initially killed via traditional harpooning, but whaling modernised in the early 20th century and boasted steam-powered boats with harpoon cannons, further facilitated the decline of the whales. The Southern Right Whales became internationally protected in 1935, but numbers were at a drastic low prior to this. It is estimated that the global population was reduced from about 80 000 animals down to just a few hundred! The population in South Africa is doing very well, increasing at its biological maximum of 7% per annum. Global numbers are now estimated to be 15 000 individuals, approximately 5 000 of which utilise the southern African coastline. Southern Right Whales are found between 18ºS to 64ºS, migrating between feeding grounds in the colder Antarctic waters where they spend the austral summers and warmer breeding grounds closer to the equator in austral winter months. Important calving and mating grounds are close to shore off the coasts of Australia, South Africa, South America and some oceanic islands.