Blade Runner is a humpback whale that was injured by a ship’s propeller near Sydney nearly 20 years ago. You can easily spot the deep 30 cm battle scars along her left side and her right tail. The last time she was seen was during the whale migration along Australia’s eastern coast, and it seemed the scars had fully healed. Anyone who saw her would agree that it was truly an incredible sight; the striped pattern from her scars serves as a true testament to how magnificent and resilient this giant sea creature is. The scars resemble zebra stripes.
Perhaps the most remarkable fact about this particular humpback whale is that she is a mother! She was discovered in 2013 with a calf. Marine scientist Vanessa Pirotta noted that collisions between whales and ships are not uncommon.
Dr. Pirotta explained, “Some whales can recover and heal, and [Blade Runner] is a great example of that.”
“The interaction between ships and whales can be fatal,” she continued, adding that whales like Blade Runner serve as a reminder for people to respect the rules and regulations when participating in whale watching activities.
“She’s just one individual in a larger population, but she could serve as an iconic animal to remind us all that we need to work together to protect these creatures,” she said.
“When we see a known individual again, it’s a wonderful thing. It tells you that they’re okay.”
