Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni)are named after the Norwegian entrepreneur Johan Bryde who set up the first whaling station in Durban, South Africa in1908.Bryde’s whales are the second smallest rorqual (±12 meters) that lives in temperate and sub-tropical waters.
These whales are commonly confused with sei whales but they have a prominentdistinguishing feature– it has 3 parallel ridges between the blowholes and the tip of its head.Its prominent dorsal fin is also sickle-shaped.
Bryde’s whales are rarely seen in large groups but will congregate if the prey quantity is ideal.Theirdietconsists mostly of pelagic fish, crustaceans and if the opportunity arises, cephalopods (squid, cuttlefish).
Breedingcan happen at any time during the year.Sexual maturity is reached at 10 years for males and 8 years for females.Females give birth to one calf that weighs approx. one ton and are 4 meters at birth.
Bryde’s whales are listed as a Data Deficient species on theIUCN Red listas the identity and number of species in the “Bryde’s Whale complex” is still unclear.These whales were targeted by whalers in previous years until the Moratorium on whaling in 1986 but nothing is known about their current population trends.
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