There's a what behind me? Kayaker is oblivious as 36-ton humpback whale leaps out of water next to him

By MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE

It's behind you: The kayaker paddles on oblivious as the giant humpback whale leaps out of the Pacific Ocean


It was a real case of blink and you miss it as this kayaker got a close encounter with an adult humpback whale.

The man was looking the other way as the 36-ton animal leaped out of the water off Sydney Harbour, Australia, before crashing back down again into the surf.

But he soon realised the giant creature was there after hearing the almighty splash as it reentered the water.


Thar she blows: The kayaker turns around as the 36-ton adult whale splashes back into the water


The vast whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, was pictured from the shoreline as it continued its annual migration down the New South Wales coast.

Humpback whales typically migrate up to 15,500 miles every year. They feed only in the summer, whilst in polar waters, and migrate to sub-tropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter.

Once hunted to near extinction, a moratorium on hunting the species in 1966 has helped to see numbers climb back up to around 80,000.

They are commonly spotted off the coasts of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S and feed on krill and herring.

The largest humpback ever recorded was killed in the Caribbean and weighed a staggering 90 tons.


Making a splash: The giant creature was migrating along the New South Wales coast when it made its appearance off Sydney Harbour


Gentle giant: Adult humpback whales migrate up to 15,500 miles a year and can reach up to 56ft in length


source: dailymail