UPDATE:
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Just a little update, at 3.55pm the whale was reported to be two kilometres offshore heading south - at speed.
Unconfirmed, but a reliable source has posted on Facebook that the southern right whale visitor has popped under the Forster Tuncurry bridge and is heading for open water.
As a result of the unique occurrence, traffic is banked back along McIntosh Street to the Forster Bowling Club.
EARLIER:
The southern right whale, which has captured the attention and hearts of thousands as it glides through the waters of Wallis Lake, is yet to be identified as either male or female.
Despite rumours the mammal is a female which has entered the lake the give birth, authorities do not know and are yet to determine its sex.
"We still don't know its gender or age," ORRCA vice-president, Jools Farrell told the Great Lakes Advocate today, Friday, July 2.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is today consulting a catalogue which lists both southern right and humpback whales which have at one stage visited the Mid North Coast.
"We try to work out this from photographs taken in the past," Jools said.
Just like a human fingerprint, whales can be identified from their tail and the callosities (thick, irregular white deposits) on their heads.
RELATED:
"At this stage there is no concern about the whale's wellbeing."
Authorities will continue to monitor its body condition and health.
Members of the public are reminded to keep their distance from the endangered animal, with NPWS earlier this week taking the unprecedented step of banning anyone or anything from going within 500 metres of the whale.
Concerned traffic vibrations from vehicles crossing the Forster Tuncurry bridge could be spooking the whale, MidCoast Council has warned motorists a speed reduction to 20km/h and/or temporary closures couple be introduced in coming days.
According to a post on the council Facebook page, at some point, experts will try to shepherd the whale out under the bridge so it can return to the ocean and continue its northern migration,
"When that happens, reduced speed limits or a closure will be enforced, to try to reduce vibration as much as possible while our friend crosses underneath.
"We know everyone will be happy to lose a little time to assist this gentle creature on its way."
Ms Farrell said the whale was witnessed making multiple attempts to swim under the bridge yesterday, Thursday, July 1, confirming council's post.
"There has been talk about guiding the whale out, but while it holds its condition and health, this could be another week," she said.
She said the whale would most likely make its return to open water during the night.
Southern right whales eat small crustaceans, krill and copepods
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