A humpback whale put on a spectacular display of power and grace by breaching off St Croix Island in Algoa Bay. Photographer Lloyd Edwards, owner of Raggy Charters, captured the breathtaking moments. The event highlights the immense energy and agility of these marine giants.
In a stunning natural spectacle, a humpback whale breached repeatedly off St Croix Island in Algoa Bay, near Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. Lloyd Edwards, a photographer and owner of Raggy Charters, documented the event, capturing the whale's immense burst of energy at the start of each breach. This exertion is comparable to a human running a marathon, with humpbacks sometimes breaching dozens of times consecutively.
The photographs reveal key features of the humpback. Its flippers, among the longest appendages of any animal, enable the whale to spin through the air and fend off predators while protecting young. Distinctive pleats along the belly, known as rorqual folds, expand like an accordion to engulf massive volumes of water and prey in a single gulp. Knobbly ridges on the leading edge of the flippers, called tubercles, enhance manoeuvrability and efficiency in water.
The display culminates in a dramatic re-entry, as the whale—potentially weighing up to 40 tonnes—crashes back into the sea with a thunderous splash. This showcases the creature's strength and agility, offering a rare glimpse into humpback behavior during their migrations. Edwards' images provide valuable insights into these majestic animals in their coastal habitat.