SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES (Eubalaena australis)

Southern right whales are large baleen whales. The average size of an adult is approximately 15 metres, but they do grow larger. These whales are filter feeders and they sieve copepods (small planktonic organisms) from the water using huge baleen plates, which hang from the roof of their mouth. This species has a three year breeding cycle, with each female producing one calf every three years. They migrate to our sheltered bays in winter to have their calves, and most are born around August. At this time, some individuals will be mating. When they are not here in South Africa, they are in the Antarctic in their rich summer feeding grounds.

CAPE FUR SEAL (Arctocephalus pusillus)

From the Otariid family, Cape Fur Seals show the features typical of the non-true seals. They have small external ears and can bring their back flippers underneath themselves on land to act as hind legs. The males can reach 350kg and each holds a small territory in the breeding season. Bulls occupy harems of females, anything up to 50 per male! The females are smaller (around 80 kg) and each has one pup. This species has an annual breeding cycle, with pups being born Nov-Dec. Around 10,000 pups are born annually. These seals have excellent diving capabilities and eat mainly anchovies, pilchards and squid. The seals are resident on Geyser Rock.

AFRICAN PENGUIN (Spheniscus demersus)

The African penguin (also known as Jackass penguin) has lived on Dyer Island since records began. However, due to disturbance during the years of guano harvesting and egg collection, their numbers have decreased from 40,000 to between 6000 – 8000. The main breeding season is March to May, with each female laying 1-2 eggs. Male and female pairs return annually to the same nest site. These birds have exceptional swimming and diving capabilities, with maximum diving depth being 300m.
Please visit www.facesofneed.com for more information regarding our penguin housing project.       

GREAT WHITE SHARK (Carcharodon carcharias)

White sharks are present around the island all year, with peak shark season being May to September. The sharks are feeding mainly on large oily fish (eg Snoek), and the Cape fur seals. The average size of a white shark in this area is 3.5 – 4m, but they do grow much larger. Breeding patterns are not completely understood. Females are believed to reach sexual maturity at 4m and pups are born fully functional at about 1.5m in length. The cage diving industry is the fastest growing industry in this area, and Gansbaai is now considered the best place in the world to dive with white sharks.

'Shark Alley' 

The island is situated some 8 km from Kleinbaai and is home to 6000 – 8000 African penguins, about 120 000 Cape Cormorants, as well as most of the other seabirds on our coast. It has been inhabited since the early 1800's and became a nature reserve in 1982. In the past seals were culled for skins and oil, and guano was removed from the island and used as fertilizer. The birds that can be seen include roseatte terns, swift terns, common terns, African black oystercatchers, southern giant petrels, subantartic skuas, whitechinned petrel, Wilson's storm petrel and European storm petrel.

Next to Dyer Island is Geyser Rock with its colony of thousands of Cape fur seals. These intelligent, curious and playful animals can be seen at close range and are a highlight for many a tourist. 

The channel of water separating Dyer Island and Geyser Rock is the now world famous Shark Alley, where a number of international documentaries have been made about the Great white shark.