The Blue whale — the largest animal on Earth today— was spotted in the waters south west of Haida Gwaii on July 9.
“The photo does not do the size of the whale justice,” wrote the Marine Education and Research Society on their Facebook page.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) spotted the animal during their Science At-Sea mission, a program to collect information on Canada’s oceans and aquatic resources.
READ MORE: Haida Gwaii grey whale deaths add to growing trend
“Hunted relentlessly for hundreds of years, the species remains endangered today, although there is now an international ban on taking Blue whales.
“Sightings of Blue whales off Canada’s Pacific coast have been rare in recent years, suggesting that population numbers have fallen quite low,” according to the DFO.
The DFO also encountered T252 matriline killer whale last week during the mission in the waters around Haida Gwaii.
READ MORE: PHOTOS: Stranded grey whale on Jungle Beach
Jenna Cocullo | Journalist
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