Mustika, Putu Liza Kusuma (2024) A whale of a journey: On the connectivity between pygmy blue whales in Indonesia, Australia, and beyond. In: Newlands, Maxine, and Hansen, Claire, (eds.) Critical Approaches to the Australian Blue Humanities. Routledge Environmental Humanities . Routledge, London, UK, pp. 162-171.

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Abstract

This story explores the blue humanities from the viewpoint of an Indonesian cetologist who has lived in Australia for almost twenty years. The story begins with two pygmy blue whales that the author and her team tagged in Savu Sea, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, in November 2021. The pygmy blue whales were expected to swim along the coasts of Western Australia, possibly to turn eastwards later towards the waters of South Australia. However, to everyone’s surprise, one of the two whales swam straight towards the sub-Antarctic waters, while the other one followed the predicted pattern of cruising the Western Australian water before turning eastwards slightly to South Australia, then took another turn southward towards the waters between the Subtropical Front and the Sub-Antarctic Front, outside Australia’s Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). The unexpected migratory routes of these two whales changed the narrative forever. Indonesians can no longer assume that ‘their’ whales only travel between Indonesia and Australia, for their whales also travel to the sub-Antarctic waters. Indonesia’s whales are indeed not just ‘their’ whales. To protect these whales, Australia and Indonesia need to work together and understand that the whales are the property of neither country. This chapter looks at conflicts between humans and animals, particularly whaling, fisheries, tourism, offshore mining, and marine traffic, not just from the Western perspective of a trained cetologist but through the spiritual lens of a Balinese Indonesian who sees humans and animals as part of the same ecosystem.

Item ID:	83350
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Research - B1)
ISBN:	9781003365501
Copyright Information:	© 2025 selection and editorial matter, Maxine Newlands and Claire Hansen; individual chapters, the contributors.
Date Deposited:	27 Aug 2024 01:57
FoR Codes:	41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410404 Environmental management @ 50% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410407 Wildlife and habitat management @ 50%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180504 Marine biodiversity @ 100%
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