Boca de Soledad
Many of us have traveled great distances to visit these quiet lagoons, hoping for close encounters with the gray whales. These gentle giants, who also travel great distances (as much as 13,000 miles round trip), use these lagoons as their calving and breeding grounds. Today, the whales put on a show we will never forget.
We ooh-ed and awe-ed as the whales made numerous close passes under our Zodiacs, spy-hopped nearby, and breached in the distance. Our cameras couldn't focus on all of the activity: males courted females; mothers nudged their calves towards our Zodiacs; and single whales fought for our attentions, flashing a fin and splashing about.
The gray whales have not always been as abundant as they were today. Man hunted the gray whales to near extinction in the 1860's and then again in the early 1900's. Naturalist and whaling Captain Charles Melville Scammon discovered the lagoons of Baja California. In one account, he describes his experience as "exceedingly picturesque and exciting." Unfortunately, he refers to a scene of slaughter rather than the magical experience we all shared today.
Mexico has never hunted gray whales. In the past, whale stations were contracted to American and European companies. Mexico acted as one of the first countries to protect these animals. Today, researchers believe that the numbers of the California gray whale has exceeded the pre-whaling population. We witnessed today both the success of past conservation and the importance of continued efforts.
These beautiful, friendly whales are sometimes referred to as "Ambassadors to the Sea." What an appropriate title for such distinguished creatures.
Many of us have traveled great distances to visit these quiet lagoons, hoping for close encounters with the gray whales. These gentle giants, who also travel great distances (as much as 13,000 miles round trip), use these lagoons as their calving and breeding grounds. Today, the whales put on a show we will never forget.
We ooh-ed and awe-ed as the whales made numerous close passes under our Zodiacs, spy-hopped nearby, and breached in the distance. Our cameras couldn't focus on all of the activity: males courted females; mothers nudged their calves towards our Zodiacs; and single whales fought for our attentions, flashing a fin and splashing about.
The gray whales have not always been as abundant as they were today. Man hunted the gray whales to near extinction in the 1860's and then again in the early 1900's. Naturalist and whaling Captain Charles Melville Scammon discovered the lagoons of Baja California. In one account, he describes his experience as "exceedingly picturesque and exciting." Unfortunately, he refers to a scene of slaughter rather than the magical experience we all shared today.
Mexico has never hunted gray whales. In the past, whale stations were contracted to American and European companies. Mexico acted as one of the first countries to protect these animals. Today, researchers believe that the numbers of the California gray whale has exceeded the pre-whaling population. We witnessed today both the success of past conservation and the importance of continued efforts.
These beautiful, friendly whales are sometimes referred to as "Ambassadors to the Sea." What an appropriate title for such distinguished creatures.
