Humpback whale calf performs breach in front of Space Needle in Seattle: Watch
Saman ShafiqA humpback whale, visiting the waters off Seattle, treated onlookers to a spectacular show with several breaches in the bay, close to the city's downtown area.
Video footage from Thursday shows the whale, identified as the young calf of an adult female named "Smiley," leaping out of the water in a majestic breach. The Associated Press reported that the calf breached for almost 40 minutes, while also performing several pectoral fin slaps and dives.
In one of the photographs, the whale can be seen breaching in front of the iconic Space Needle in Seattle.
Co-coordinator of the program’s Seattle branch Jeff Hogan told AP that he counted about 30 breaches. Hogan told the media outlet that the young whale looked healthy and slept after the grand performance.
The young humpback calf was spotted swimming around Elliott Bay several times before it performed its mesmerizing stunt, according to AP.
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Humpback whale breaches in Seattle
Humpback whales are not a rarity in Seattle waters and are often spotted as they migrate along the West Coast. However, such stunts and breaches are an unusual sight.
Smiley’s last calf, Chip, was killed in 2020 after a Washington state ferry struck it, Canadian group Vancouver Island Whale Watch told AP.
Personnel from Soundwatch Boater Education Program monitored the calf's movements on Thursday for most of the time to alert other vessels of its movements and whereabouts.
