I have always threatened to go to see the Blue Whale Exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum. In my introductory talks to our whale tours I keep asking my friends from Toronto and Ontario in general, "Have you seen the Blue Whale exhibit?" Quite a few had.
So when weather stranded me in Toronto I said here is the ideal opportunity to go and see the
exhibit. Also an opportunity to get lost on the subway and downtown Toronto on a cool fall day.
After finally walking through the doors of the museum there was armour worn by knights, fossilized remains of dinosaurs, Mummies and a Sarcophagus plus totem poles of the indigenous First Nations of this land. There were so many fascinating exhibits in such a relatively small place. My experience with most of these things were viewing them in documentaries on television. While fascinating on the tely it was something more magical in person.
Sadly the cashier informed me that the Blue Whale Exhibit had left some time ago and they did not expect to have it back anytime soon.This exhibit included the bones of this largest animal species that has ever lived on earth. It is one of nine that perished on the west coast of Newfoundland in 2014 that got trapped in ice. Affectionately named Rocky, it received the name for the area where the bones had been flensed from the flesh, Rocky Harbour.
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| An extinct turtle from the Dinosaur era |
Meandering through the multi levelled building eventually drawn to the Mammal area of the ROM.
Now here was an area I could appreciate with several species of animals that I had seen in person. Bears, whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, crabs the list goes on. Most of these species were frequent in our northern climes.
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| Spider Crab |
There was a life sized Leatherback Sea Turtle animated swimming in a nonexistent ocean.
While beautiful it was more magical to me as I had seen a live one on tour last year.
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| Leatherback Sea Turtle Feeding on a Lions Mane Jellyfish |
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| Leatherback swimming close-up |
Swimming from South America following the Gulf Stream eating the Moon Jellies (jellyfish) their migratory pattern takes them as far as Newfoundland returning each year to the same location within a week of the arrival anniversary, amazing! Though I don't imagine turtle destination management is high priority in their itinerary of things to do and places to be. As most things in life it is about survival by finding enough to eat or finding a mate to produce the numbers of offspring required to ensure survival of the species.
Another seasonal visitor to the island is the Ocean Sunfish or Mola Mola. We have seen and filmed these on our trips. Personally I have swam with a couple of them over the years.
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| Mola Mola or Ocean Sunfish |
Up to 370 kg and up to six feet long these members of the shark family are relatively harmless eating jellyfish like their Leatherback counterparts.
As a whale watching, wildlife, ecotourism tour operator we get to experience these things in the wild as if through a lens in real time. There really is nothing more thrilling than when the magic comes to life. However there are other things in the ocean I do not care to come in contact with such as the Giant Squid seen swimming above my head in the imaginary ocean.
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| Giant Squid |
These are aggressive predators that are known to frequent the waters of Bonavista and Trinity Bays though never seen frequently I never want to see one when I am diving especially. With eyes as large as dinner plates they are well adapted for the deep dark ocean. All creatures have their part to play in the fabric of life so the Giant Squid occupies its space.
Talking of giants we are living in an era of gigantism in the cetacean (whales) spectrum. Whales have never been larger than they are right now in the history of their existence. Other species have been larger, beavers, tigers, sharks but have returned to a sustainable size for their current conditions. Whales have grown larger which helps in their long migration expending less energy for their movements. Also their mouth size ensures that they can catch enough smaller prey in a single gulp such as our Capelin or Krill to ensure their survival.
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| Shallow Water Lunge Feeding Adult Humpback |
There is a theory that cetaceans are at their maximum size for the environment which is why we do not have 200 foot whales but we have 90 to 100 foot Blue Whales. They are at their maximum sustainable size. The second largest whale in the world frequents Trinity Bay quite often and we see them regularly, the Fin or Finback Whale as seen below. Blue Whales have also been seen in Trinity Bay and area.
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| Fin or Finback Whales are sighted regularly in the feeding season |
In exploring the Mammal exhibit at the ROM the seabirds have gone through several changes but the ones I noticed were the ones that we had in Newfoundland namely Puffins, Gannets and Eagles to name a few.
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| Bald Eagle, we see as many as 100 per trip in peak summer months |
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| Gannets fishing taken from 2018 |
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| Puffin group |
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| Puffin Close Up |
It kind of boggles the mind that we have such diversity in a small portion of the northern ocean particularly directly in the vicinity of Trinity. A wildlife ecotour here usually means encountering all of these animals as well as the potential for icebergs, Orca and meeting with old friends.
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| Iceberg 2017 |
Needless to say the patrons we have had leave with a unique perspective and a deeper love for the ocean and its inhabitants.
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| An Orca people watching? |
When I first started our operation eleven seasons ago now Newfoundland was still growing its products as a tourist destination. In my travels around the so called hotspots of the tourism world not only have I come to appreciate that we are a prime tourism destination, we offer world class experiences to our guests.
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| Our annually returning whale friend Finnegan |
Newfoundland has to be one of the last unspoiled wildernesses that whales, dolphins,porpoises and many more land based animals can be viewed in a less cluttered, more wild, more picturesque, more pristine environment. Most who come here feel it to the point that it is a repeat destination time and time again with a new experience each time from whale watching to hiking to All Terrain Vehicles, snowmobiling to just pure relaxing by the ocean. I can not encourage you enough to make the trek to Newfoundland to experience our local hospitality, our uncluttered and wild oceans as well as world class wildlife viewing. Make sure you get out of the city as well to experience outport Newfoundland. You will be glad you did.
If you are in Toronto visit the ROM, the Mammal exhibit should wet your appetite for a visit to the unspoiled wildlife of Newfoundland.
Keep an eye for my next blog The Value of Staying in the Traditional B&B sector of Newfoundland.
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| Trinity Eco-tours and Lodge |
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| Our B&B |
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Our restaurant
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