Close encounter of the whale kind

Energy and Resources, Tar Sands,
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You must see this eye-popping footage of a recent rare close encounter with a humpback whale off the coast of BC’s spectacular Great Bear Rainforest. Whales like this one and many other coastal species are at grave risk from Enbridge’s proposed pipeline to pump oil from the Tar Sands across BC and into supertankers in Kitimat, before plying some of the world’s most treacherous waters en route to Asia. This awesome creature approached a boat carrying among others filmmaker Damien Gillis, and proceeded to interact playfully with the crew for 45 minutes! Watch highlights of this amazing and unique west coast experience – caught on camera. And stay tuned for a new documentary for Pacific Wild by Damien Gillis on the proposed Enbridge pipeline and coastal tankers, coming soon to PacificWild.org and TheCanadian.org!

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About Damien Gillis

Damien Gillis is a Vancouver-based documentary filmmaker with a focus on environmental and social justice issues - especially relating to water, energy, and saving Canada's wild salmon - working with many environmental organizations in BC and around the world. He is the co-founder, along with Rafe Mair, of The Common Sense Canadian, and a board member of both the BC Environmental Network and the Haig-Brown Institute.

9 thoughts on “Close encounter of the whale kind”

  1. You’re the first person to mention the lack of personal flotation. Duly noted…Safety first.

  2. interesting film
    not a life jacket or survival suit worn by camera crew in boat! amazing trust in the safe nee of the whales nature toward man?or just too stupid to not realize the boat could have been capsised in an instant had the three whales choose.
    interesting that no one ever complains about the under water blasting of torpedos etc off canadas west coast in and around the nanoose bay area,or that which goes on off shore,causing sonic bangs that vibrate through the water and cause movement on wooden hulled fishboats . should be a no brainer to anyone , that the testing ranges should not have been allowed ,nor should still be alowed in what used to be prime fishing for trollers and other boats.
    the sickness of minds that put oil tankers in our waters ,must be old men who really have no time left and want our grandchildren to die before they are born.

  5. Yes. Magnificent area, largely unspoiled. No, we don’t need supertankers running around up there degrading the environment and threatening catastrophe on a daily basis. For what? A few lousy jobs? And of course massive profits for the Enbridge shareholders. There oughta be a law against giving away the future of many for the benefit of a present ugly few.

  6. Fantastic footage of what is obviously a beautiful sentient creature. I live in the UK but wholeheartedly support your cause in trying to preserve the sea so these mighty whales can live in peace, if only the whaling countries could have some humanity and realise what they are doing is cruel & unnecessary causing so much pain and suffering to a creature that has thoughts and feelings much like humans.

  7. Thank You so much for sharing this video Damien. This is the first time I’ve seen video this close of a Humpback whale so I am very grateful you posted this. As the top comment said thank you as well for your hard work on this grave issue on the proposed pipeline and tankers. I support your efforts wholeheartedly as most of us residents of BC do I am sure.

  8. It seemed like the Humpback was really trying to connect with the people on the boat…VERY neat!

    Thank you Damien for this awesome video and for what you are doing to protect our pristine coast for these magnificent creatures!

    Let’s all make our voices heard: no noisy supertankers off our BC coast!

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