Aussie man’s incredible whale encounter: ‘He’s circling me’
The kayaker's animated response is being likened to that of Steve Irwin.
A kayaker cruising the open waters of Western Australia couldn't get enough off the "amazing" sight he was luck enough to come across.
Content creator Brodie Moss who is known to capture his unique adventures with wildlife, was venturing around on his transparent kayak when humpback whales started "circling" him.
"Big fella was bloody interested in my transparent kayak," he captioned his TikTok on Wednesday, which has now garnered more than 4.9 million views.
As one whale rises above the water a mere few metres away from him, the man becomes animated. "Holy s**t, there's whales there," he exclaims. "That scared me."
Brodie jokingly introduces himself to the whale, who seems to be comfortable accompanying him, and is seen swimming beside and right underneath the kayak.
"He's circling me," Brodie says. "I think he likes me a lot." The whale then suddenly breaches the surface, giving Brodie a fright. "Oh s**t, my heart, what the hell," he says.
A sea turtle also appears next to him, popping its head out of the water with curiosity.
'You're a Disney princess'
Thousands hopped to the comments section of the video, blown away by the "amazing" sight. "This looks so cool," one person said on TikTok.
"This is the greatest reaction and brings back memories of Steve Irwin," another said on Instagram.
Others were also astonished by how often Brodie gets to experience unique moments with wildlife.
"You're a Disney princess," one person joked.
"These are experiences that most people will never get. It's amazing to be able to connect with the ocean like you do. Keep doing what you love," another said.
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Humpback whales are a protected species found off coastal Australia, and can be seen in Sydney in June, July and August, according to the Australian Museum. They feed on krill and small schooling fish and spend summer in the Antarctic before travelling north during winter to breed.
Boats need to keep their distance from whales
Vessels such as boats, kayaks and canoes are allowed to engage in whale watching, however they must stay at a safe distance (for both the mammal and the people).
Generally, boats across the country must stay 100 metres away from whales – or 300 metres for those on jet-skis – and those not following the rules have to pay a hefty price. Watching whales from a headland in the late afternoon is recommended.
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