The Whales of Samana
The Whales of Samana
The humpback whales that return to the West Indies each winter
to mate and calve begin their long-awaited reappearance in December.
During January through March, they circulate between the several
breeding areas like humans do singles-bars.
Approximately 1,00 visit samana for varying periods during the season,
with 100 or more always present in the bay
throughout peak period, late - January and February.
Ken de Pree
Humpbacks are always animated, but breeding season is when they're most lively -- the males en particular.
What the females think of their attention-getting efforts is unknown but humans thrill to the acrobatics and tingle when they hear the haunting song.
Whales are certainly Samana's most loyal visitors:
Humpbacks have been wintering nearby for centuries.
Drawings on the walls of caves in Los Haitises National Park
depict spouting whales seen in the bay by the aboriginal inhabitants long before Columbus reached Samana in January, 1493.
Columbus saw the whales, according to his log books on his journeys along the north cost of Hispaniola.
Further evidence of their longtime presence is the names given the chain of small cays near Las Terrenas:
Las Tres Ballenas (The Three Whales). When vieved from the nearby heights, the cays appear to be two adult whales with a calf.
In 1853 Sir R.H. Schomburg, then Great Britain's Consul to the Dominican Republic, reported:
The Bay of Samana abounds with fish. The whale visits it in spring in large number (Journal , Royal Geagraphic Society, London)
Old whaling records also speak of whales near Samana. In 1854 the American whaling ship Esther d'Orleans received permission
to hunt in the adjacent waters.
Whale-watching in Samana
Since about 1990, whale-watching has become a big issue:
- For the Dominicans (especially the locals in Samana)
- It means big business and many families make 90%+ of their anual income during the Whale Season.
Fishermen work on the excursionboats cruising the bay on the lookout for whales.
Some even operate their own small business, usually a lancha, a 10 seater fiberglass boat with a strong outborder engine.
Their wives and childern prepare and sell food and beverages to the tourists during their lunchbreak on Cayo Levantado.
The rest of the family is trying to sell souvenirs to the steady flow of visitors.
- For Environmentalists ( from all over the world)
- It means steady growing concern about the whales and their habitat for breeding.
What was once a privilege for only a few,is today offered to thousands of tourists.
When you have dozens of boats of all sizes going after the whales at the same time, overloaded with passengers, making noise
and throwing trash into the water and when you have captains who's primary task
is to please the tourists and not the whales--you have to get concerned.
In 1995 the Dominican authorities have demonstrated responsibility and have adopted Whale Whatching Rules as proposed to them
by CIBIMA and international organizations.
Most of the boat and tour operators are nowadays adhering to those rules but when yo/u are forced to make your annual income in a few weeks the drive for fast money is bigger than personal discipline.
And being the still an underdeveloped nation the lack of control (which sometimes may be purchased-- the lack of, not the control) allows violation and negligence of such rules.
- In Short:
- Although plenty of regulations and laws have been passed by the authorities regarding safety , hygiene and protection for tourist , whales and the environment
there is no guarantee for it in reality.
This has led to the decision of a growing number of mayor foreign tour operators not to offer whale-watching in their local excursion programs. De facto one can book the standard trips to Samana offered all year round and during the stay on Cayo Levantado
one has the option to book whale whatching directly from there oneself ( around US$ 30.00 per person for 1,5 hours).
There are also a number of local Dominican travel agencies offering special whale watching trips on certain days for Dominicans.
They are usually starting out from Santo Domingo, accept also foreigners, charge fair prices and as far as we have seen use boats and captains who
meet all safety and whale-watching requirements. -- check the classifieds in the local newspapers like Listin Diario
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Updated: January 23, 1998 solution4u@usa.net