VIDEO: Whale swims under kayakers, lifts them up into the air
A dad and daughter in Argentina were enjoying a spot of close-quarters whale watching when one of the animals, evidently in a playful mood, decided to swim underneath their yak and gently lift them up into the air.
What an experience.
(Also - we did not realise that whales were so noisy. These ones sound like grumpy cows in a field…)
The incident took place near Puerto Madryn in Patagonia as a group of Southern Right Whales basked in the evening sun. Puerto Madryn is a hub for whale watching and a haven for marine life with the nearby Valdes Peninsula home to the world's largest breeding population of Southern Right Whales. The peninsula is an important nature reserve which was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.
"An incredible evening, lots of sun, kayaking and whale watching," wrote uploader gisela6652 on YouTube.
"As we watched from the top of the kayak, if one of the whales turned and came towards our direction and lifted the boat twice!!"
The kayakers stay remarkably composed, given that they suddenly find themselves in mid-air with 50 tons of wild animal underneath them, but behavioural experts say the phenomenon of 'lifting' is not an aggressive one, with mother whales sometimes giving their calves a lift when they are tired.
Or to get a better look at tourists, as in this video (annoying voice klaxon):
