Part I - Djilba - August & September
Production Notes:
Mammang Southern Right Whale is the first installment in an ongoing web documentary series capturing the awe-inspiring journey of the Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) as they make their annual migration along the southwestern coast of Australia, near Albany. This series offers an intimate look into the lives of these majestic creatures, showcasing their migration from the food-rich, frigid sub-Antarctic waters to the warmer, shallower coastal regions of Western Australia, where they come to mate and nurse their young.
The production of this short movie was a race against time. With only a limited window during the Djilba season (August and September) in the sedond week of August, we set out to capture the whales as they moved through these crucial phases of their life cycle. The opportunity to document this unique aspect of their journey was a very rewarding experience.
Southern Right Whales, also sometimes known as "Mammang" in the Noongar language, were once on the brink of extinction due to extensive whaling in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their populations have been slowly recovering, but they remain a species of great concern, with current estimates suggesting only 10,000 to 15,000 individuals left worldwide. Conservation efforts are vital to ensure the continued survival of these whales, and this series aims to highlight not only their beauty and majesty but also the ongoing need for their protection.
This film is just the beginning. As part of a broader project, future episodes will delve deeper into the lives of these whales, exploring their interactions with the environment, their social behaviors, and the ongoing conservation efforts that are critical to their survival.