A father and daughter kayaking off the coast of Argentina had the experience of a lifetime when a huge Southern Right whale lifted their kayak out of the water before lowering them back down onto the surface. The close encounter was captured on video, and while the kayakers make a concerted effort to never touch the whale, the event has come under some scrutiny. According to ABC Philadelphia:
Some Argentinians and wildlife experts are criticizing the event as there are several laws, both national and international, that prohibit such contact with whales. The leading cause of death for its cousin, the Northern Right whale, is being struck by ships, and all types of Right whales are considered “endangered” by numerous countries. In 1984, the Argentine National Congress declared the Southern Right whale a “natural monument,” continuing the protective attitude first instituted by the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, signed in 1935. [source]
