Whale of a time

KNOX School students have got up close and personal with ocean giants in the name of science.
James Moussa and Matt Twentyman, 16, and 17-year-old Matt Laaksonen last month boarded research boat Moondancer for a week-long biology trip in Queensland’s Hervey Bay.
Science teacher Sue Mason joined them as they collected whale data for the Oceania Project.
PhD students Trish and Wally Franklin established the research program in 1988 to study humpback whales on their southern migration and raise awareness about whales, dolphins and porpoises and the ocean.
The Year 10 and 11 students collected skin samples and noted whale behaviour and movements.
Ms Mason said trip highlights included “whales breaching left, right and centre”, hearing humpback whale song, and being close enough to touch them.
“Following a competitive pod verified to all onboard that these usually gentle beings can in fact be quite aggressive,” she said.
“And had us all watching in awe wondering which animal would triumph.”
The crew also spotted a dugong, green sea turtles and rare birds.