On the morning of July, 4, a Bryde's whale is feeding on fish with seagulls flying around in Dapeng Bay, Dapeng New Area in eastern Shenzhen. The whale has been roaming around in this area over the past week since it was first sighted by locals near the coast on June 29, according to Shenzhen Daily report.

A Bryde's whale is pictured feeding on fish with seagulls flying around in Dapeng Bay, Dapeng New Area in eastern Shenzhen. (Photo: Zhu Hongbo)

The whale has been sighted close to the coast for the last couple of days, delighting locals. (Photo: Zhu Hongbo)

The 8-meter-long Bryde's whale, mainly found in tropical and subtropical waters, is marked by three ridges in front of its blowhole, a dark grey back and a white or pink abdomen. It is listed as First Grade protected animal by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

A Bryde's whale is pictured feeding on fish with seagulls flying around in Dapeng Bay, Dapeng New Area in eastern Shenzhen. (Photo: Zhu Hongbo)

A Bryde's whale is pictured feeding on fish with seagulls flying around in Dapeng Bay, Dapeng New Area in eastern Shenzhen. (Photo: Zhu Hongbo)

At present, the Dapeng New Area Government has formed a working group consisting of various departments, marine experts and environmental volunteers to protect this whale. Meanwhile, the government and environmental organizations in Shenzhen have also strengthened the management of the local sea area, calling on local fishermen and tourists not to approach or feed the mammal, and urges ships to steer clear of the whale and stay away from the area.

The whale has been sighted close to the coast for the last couple of days, delighting locals. (Photo: Zhu Hongbo)

The Bryde's whale forages in waters in Dapeng Bay, Dapeng New Area in eastern Shenzhen. (Photo: Zhu Hongbo)

The appearance of the whale shows that the ecological environment in the Dapeng Bay Area has been improved efficiently with more abundant fish resources and better marine biodiversity, according to Liao Baolin, a senior engineer in marine environmental protection of Guangdong Ocean University Shenzhen Research Institute.

A researcher observes through a telescope the sea surface where the whale appears in Dapeng Bay, Dapeng New Area in eastern Shenzhen. (Photo: Zhu Hongbo)

A researcher puts a device into the sea to monitor the whale sounds and the noise in the waters. (Photo: Zhu Hongbo) 

Author | Nancy (intern)

Editor | Wing, Monica & Jerry