Sightseers asked to leave stranded Hong Kong whale in peace
A whale that has found its way into the waters around Hong Kong is to get more protection from boats carrying onlookers that could be harmful to the giant visitor, local media reported on Friday.
The 10-meter humpbacked whale first surfaced in Hong Kong`s busy shipping lanes on Monday and the number of curious people taking to the water for a closer look at the creature is increasing every day.
The local fisheries, agriculture and environment department has asked Hong Kong residents not to disturb the whale so it can find its way back to the open ocean. There are also plans for patrols around the boat to keep sightseers at a distance.
This is the first time a whale has appeared in the city and scientists believe it got lost while on its migration north from the tropical waters where it spent the winter. It is feared that the weekend could swell the number of sightseers uncontrollably, frightening the animal and making it impossible for it to return to its migration.
Ecologists hoped that the humpback, which appears healthy, would find its way out of Hong Kong`s waters, but after five days concerns are growing for its safety. They say it is coming to the surface less often, usually a sign that a whale is not well.
Scientists say that high levels of water traffic can disturb a whale, causing it to become disoriented.
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