Mammang: Southern Right Whale

The Noongar people are the traditional custodians of the southwest of Western Australia. This film is set on Menang Budja, the land of the Menang people, whose connection to Kinjaling and its surrounding landscape spans millennia. In the Noongar season of Makaru, typically between June and July, the coldest and wettest time of the year, whales begin their annual migration along the southern coastline of Western Australia. The whales, including pregnant females and mating pairs, start arriving in coastal waters during Makaru, to give birth and nurse their calves in the sheltered bays. The timing aligns with the onset of colder weather. Makaru's abundant rainfall also nurtures the land and waterways, supporting the overall health of the ecosystem, as the whales' migration mirrors the rejuvenation and nourishment of the natural environment. Like humpbacks, southern right whales migrate north during the winter. However, recent research suggests that southern right whales may not strictly follow the migratory patterns traditionally believed. The idea that they migrate between Antarctic feeding grounds and coastal breeding grounds originates from the whaling era, when catch records indicated their presence in sub-Antarctic waters. While some of these whales have indeed been observed moving towards sub-Antarctic waters, others spread out across different parts of the southern ocean, including areas just south of the Great Australian Bight and even west of Western Australia. Their migration patterns are still being studied, with ongoing tagging projects helping to uncover new insights into their behaviour and feeding grounds. Southern right whales were once considered the ideal target for whalers. These gentle giants are known for their slow movement and tendency to swim near coastlines. Unfortunately, their high blubber content and unique skeletal structure, saturated with oil, enabled them to float after being harpooned. The southern right whale is readily distinguished by the callosities on its head, a broad back without a dorsal fin, and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye. Its skin is very dark grey or black, occasionally with some white patches on the belly. The right whale's callosities appear white due to large colonies of whale lice. Unlike humpbacks, which undertake extensive migrations to warmer tropical waters for breeding and calving, southern right whales have adapted to remain in cooler waters year round. Their huge layer of blubber, up to 30cm thick, serves as excellent insulation, allowing the southern rights to maintain their body temperature even in colder waters. Southern right whale calves nurse for 4 into 12 months and grow rapidly, gaining up to 3cm in length and 200kg in weight per day. Mother's milk is extremely rich, up to 53% fat content. Southern right whales are known for their close bond between mothers and calves. They accompany their mothers on the annual migration from feeding grounds to breeding areas. This journey can be up to thousands of kilometres each way. For the Nungar people, Makaru represents not only a season of renewal, but also a time when coastal waters become a haven for these majestic whales, an essential part of the cycle of life along their traditional lands. In the next episode of Mamang, as the Nungar season of Makaru comes to a close, the cold, wet winds begin to ease and the landscape shifts in colour with the first hints of warmer days ahead. The southern right whales, now settled in the sheltered bays, nurture their newborn calves, preparing them for the journey that lies ahead. The rain begins to subside and as flowers begin to bloom, the Nungar season of Jilba arrives, a time of transition and new life, both in the ocean and across the land.