A group of whale mums play with their calves in the warm seas off the coast of Australia.
Captured by a British man now living in western Australia, the drone footage shows the mothers and their youngsters playing in Geographe Bay.
As the mothers keep careful watch over the calves, the young whales splash around the family pod trying out their diving skills.
Wildlife fan David Alphonso, 36, caught the images as the whales took a break on their way to Antarctica.
Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are listed as ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN since 2018.
David – originally from England but now settled in Bunbury, Western Australia – said he shot the footage in the middle of October this year.
He said in an exclusive interview with Newsflash: “Whale season is in full swing then, so plenty of whales come past!”
Whale watching is reportedly most rewarding between May and December when the humpbacks, southern rights, and blue whales can be spotted along the Western Australian coast.
The 36-year-old full-time electrician who got into photography about six years ago said he used a Mavic 2 pro drone to record the mesmerising videos.
He said: “I loved travelling so I took pictures with the drone and my handheld camera.
“I’m really into wildlife and have always been fascinated by nature, so being able to capture these magic moments on the drone is very exciting for me.”
David claimed his fascination with nature and wildlife began by watching David Attenborough’s documentaries when he was a child and added: “Some days it seems unreal, I never thought I’d see these in the wild now I can watch them play in the ocean for ages!
“I consider myself lucky everyday, so rewarding when you watch your own videos back and you see moments like these.”
Captivated by Australian nature, the Brit claimed the land down under offers him great opportunities to explore his passions such as diving.
He said: “Australia is such a beautiful country, and I’m also a keen free diver.
“I actually prefer to be underwater swimming with the ocean life than flying the drone over it. I’m just a massive underwater fan.”
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Story By: Georgina Jadikovska, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
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