Meet the 2023 Australian whales

In August 2023, researchers from Macquarie University and the University of Western Australia, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Australian Antarctic Division and US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, put satellite tags on southern right whales in Western Australia. Below you can meet the whales, see their tracks, and learn the significance of the names that they have been gifted by Indigenous groups.
Data is for public awareness only. Permission for use of data for scientific/management purposes must be given by data holders. Please contact e.carroll@auckland.ac.nz for more information.

Moolyup

Moolyup is a southern right whale who was tagged off Cheyne Beach, Western Australia, on 10 August 2023.
From a boat at Cheyne Beach, Mount Manypeaks is visible as the mountain range adjacent to the coast. The mountain range and its story are key in the Creation of the hills and fresh water lake systems from the Stirling Ranges to Cheyne Beach. The main mountain is the mother (Yilberup), and the two hills are the sisters (Moolyup and Twertup). Moolyup is the name of south Sister, known as the “little hill” and is the younger sister of the North Sister, known as Twertup. The sisters always travel together, and so the whale was given the name of Moolyup as it was the smaller of the two whales that were closely swimming together.

Tyiurtj

Tyiurtj was tagged off Cheyne Beach, Western Australia, on 10 August 2023. Tyiurtj [Ch-iutj] is an Ancestral creator and dreamtime giant that created the white sand beaches. Tyiurtj means ‘white’, and several names are derived from this Ancestral creator, such as, the chuditch (Western quoll, Dasyurus geoffroii) which has white spots. The chuditch is listed as Near-threatened on the IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species, and is only found in southwest Australia.

This whale was given this name of Tyiurtj due to its unusual colouration. It is a grey morph, which are born white or partly white, and then darken with age becoming mottled or having a grey appearance. Tyiurtj was resting on the surface with another southern right whale, who was resting on the bottom. The friend of Tyiurtj who is darker in appearance, was also satellite tagged and is called Merningup. Both Tyiurtj and Merningup travelled east in shallow waters along the coast along the white sand beaches; the country of the Merningar people (shell people/whale maat people).

Twertup

Twertup is a southern right whale who was tagged off Cheyne Beach, Western Australia, on 11 August 2023.

From a boat at Cheyne Beach, Mount Manypeaks is visible as the mountain range adjacent to the coast. The mountain range and its story are key in the Creation of the hills and fresh water lake systems from the Stirling Ranges to Cheyne Beach. The main mountain is the mother (Yilberup), and the two hills are the sisters (Moolyup and Twertup). The two sisters face their mother, and the north sister Twertup is the taller of the two hills and is the older sister to the “little hill” south sister Moolyup. Twertup the whale was given the name as it was the larger of the two whales swimming together.

Norngerin

Norngerin is a southern right whale who was tagged off Cheyne Beach, Western Australia, on 12 August 2023. Norngerin is known as the “dolphin man”, or Johnny Knapp. Norngerin is the grandfather of living Merningar Elders. He would wade waist deep in the water and slap the waves, singing the dolphins in to herd the salmon. Norngerin is translated to “snake chaser”.

Merningup

Merningup was tagged off Cheynes Beach, Western Australia, on 13 August 2023.
Merningup (Murning-up) which means ‘whale point’ and is the location of Butty Head, west of Esperance, Western Australia. Merningup is part of the country of the Merningar people (shell people/whale maat people).
This whale was given this name as after it was tagged it travelled east along the coast in shallow waters along the country of the Merningar people.
Merningup the whale was first sighted resting of the bottom on the ocean, with another whale who was resting on the surface (Tyiurtj who was also satellite tagged). Merningup the whale was satellite tagged three days after Tyiurtj.