Zachary Shaul Adventures

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Zachary Shaul Adventures

Life is an adventure, and im full of life! Always on the quest to explore the world and its wildlife, but often other things too.

Rocket launches, aviation, beautiful landscapes, you name it and odds are i’m interested in it.

08/03/2026

Just before leaving for my trip to Argentina I realized the area I was headed would likely have some unbelievably dark skies. Unfortunately the forecast called for only one clear night, but it was all I needed to really enjoy.
Looking out across the Gulfo Nuevo I felt like I could see every star in existence reflecting bright over the water. I think the best part of star gazing here was hearing the whales breathe out in the water. Their breaths would race atop the surface and then echo off of the cliffs beside me. Definitely the coolest star gazing I have ever done.

07/31/2026

In the 1920's there were roughly only three-hundred Southern Right Whales left alive on Earth. It's estimated that, at that time, we wiped out 99% percent of the species. Even their name "Right" whale was given because they were the right whale to hunt. Their blubber and baleen were extremely valuable commodities back in those times.
Thanks to nearly a century of laws, and protections these beautiful creatures have had a major comeback, with an estimated ten to fifteen thousand now existing globally. Of that number about twenty-two-hundred of them return to the Gulfo Nuevo every year during the peak of breeding season.
Argentina imposed some of most aggressive marine mammal protections in existence. In 1935 the IWC (International Whaling Commission) banned the species from commercial whaling, Then specific bodies of waters were locked down, turning them into marine sanctuaries, thus guarding the important waters where breeding and mating takes place. Also, in 1988 the Southern Right Whale was declared a National Natural Monument, giving the whales the highest legal protection possible under Argentina's federal law. Every baby seen is hope the species will continue to survive, and proof that protections work. It's beautiful to see people coming together to protect such an important species.
*It's estimated that there are still less than 370 Northern Right Whales left in existence, as they live in different waters, belonging to different countries who have not done enough to protect the species.

**Photo taken under government permit/supervision while with The Wild Expeditions

07/30/2026

Of all the swims in all the oceans I've had, there are moments that I will never forget. Moments that I feel changed me, shaped me, led me to become something more. This is one of those moments.
On the very last day of our trip to Argentina with I had an encounter that brought tears welling up from inside me. Through out the week we'd encountered numerous calfs swimming alongside their moms. Usually the moms take their baby away from us, from the boats, from the danger, placing the calf on the far side of their body from us, and leaving the area immediately.
This mother however decided we were safe enough to allow her youngling near. After several lazy passes around us she decided the baby could swim where it pleased, deeming us non-threatening.
I can't honestly say that the whale "trusted" me, or even regarded me in anyway besides I was something to look at as she swam, but my mind swam with the possibilities of what it could mean. I was humbled by this unforgettable experience, and felt such privilege to witness the bond between mother and calf. Sharing a few minutes with them, in their world, on their terms filled me with respect for these beautiful animals. It was a reminder of what a gift our oceans, and their inhabitants are to us.

Taken with government permit/supervision

whale

07/27/2026

Like the song goes, " I'd rather be chasing.....the wind"
Whale, that's exactly what's happening here, tail-sailing. Using their massive tails to help them drift lazily across the ocean, these Southern Right Whales can conserve energy as they float along.
They also do this for thermoregulation. Even though the water is 45 degrees Fahrenheit, it is still a little warm for these blubbery mammals. Their flukes (tails) are filled with blood vessels and letting the cool air pass over them helps the whales to lower their body temperature.
I'd like to note that it's also thought that the whales do this simply because they can, as a form of play and relaxation in calmer coastal waters.

07/24/2026

If you're struggling to understand what you are looking at, let me explain. This is a Southern Right Whale vertical in the water column, directly below me. I am floating at the surface looking straight down at it. That large U is its mouth, closed tight, and those white patches are what everyone keeps asking me about. Callosities. These are raised patches or hardened, thick skin, primarily found on the Right Whales. The skin is actually dark like the rest of the whale, but the callosities are white in color due to the colonization of barnacles and tiny amphipods called whale lice. These rough patches of skin are not caused by the external environment, they are present in the fetus and throughout the prenatal stages. At birth they are not fully developed, nor are the colonized by the barnacles and lice until they are several months old.
Numbering in the thousands, whale lice are tiny crustaceans who make their home living on whales. They are believed cause no harm to the individuals as a type of symbiosis takes place. Though not thoroughly understood, it is clear that at least the lice are benefiting from living on the whales.

Taken with government permit/supervision

07/23/2026

Upon first look you might be thinking "oh look a whale doing the locust yoga pose" which yes, there is definitely a similarity here, but no this whale is not doing yoga. Bummer I know, but it's actually protecting itself from Kelp Gulls. These birds land on the backs of the Southern Right Whales off of Peninsula Valdés, where they peck into their flesh to get pieces skin and fat. Newborns are the most often attacked as their skin is softer and they haven't learned defensive maneuvers yet, but this has been a growing problem for the whales. Keeping them under stress and submerged for longer periods of time which disrupts their resting habits and nursing time, not to mention the increased risk of infections.
What you're seeing here is a behavior learned to keep as little surface area as possible above the water in effort to reduce risk of pecking.

This was quite cool to see and a new lesson taught to me by Caine Delacy while In Argentina with Just The Wild Expeditions.

07/20/2026

Was tough to not to root for Argentina in the World Cup yesterday with falling in love with the country on my recent trip there. The pride and unity everywhere I went about their beloved team. I think I saw more Messi jerseys than any single players jersey I've ever seen of any sport.
My first night in Puerto Piramides was the only forecasted clear night so I knew I had to go see some stars. I've never wanted a star tracker for my camera set up before until I went out that night. I felt like I could see whole different galaxies swirling around up there, it was one of the most gorgeous nights I've ever experienced. this was a short walk up the road leading out of town, I noticed the road sign on our way in earlier and felt the words sum up my entire trip perfectly, Por Siempre Argentina or Argentina forever!

07/17/2026

I know that this is not the cleanest picture I've ever taken, but it's a super cool shot to have a Southern Right Whale with its mouth ajar. You can even see some silt filter out the back alongside the body, under the eye.
These are baleen whales, meaning they don't have teeth. Instead they have hundreds of baleen plates that hang from their upper jaws. *Baleen is made out of keratin, the same stuff as rhino horns, and human finger/toe nails!
These plates can grow to be between seven and nine feet long, so their lower jaws have to curve upwards in those deep sweeping arcs to fit the baleen inside when their mouths are shut. This shape also directs a constant flow of water into their mouths, catching krill, and tiny crustaceans on the bristles, while the water can easily flow out of the sides.

Taken with government permit/supervision

07/15/2026

There are the days you dream of, and there are the days you will dream forever about. This was an entire week I will forever dream about, six days in the ocean with Southern Right whales. Each day I thought to myself it couldn't possibly get any better than this, yet it did. Every day, every encounter was more than I could have ever hoped for.
In 1937 there was an "official end commercial hunting of the Southern Right Whale in Argentina, though the Soviets continued secretly until the mid 1960s. Today, the population that comes to the coast of Peninsula Valdes is considered the largest population of Southern Right Whales globally, mostly in part of the governments willingness to protect them, and the measures created to do so accordingly.
In a country where I'm watching my current government roll back protections against endangered species it was beautiful to see the pride Argentina has about how far the've come to protect this incredible species.

07/13/2026

Named, the Right Whale because it was the right whale to to kill. These giants swim slowly, stay close to shore, and float when killed. They also contain loads of blubber, which would be melted down into oil for lamps. In the 1920's they were hunted almost to extinction with numbers estimated to be as few as 300 individuals left.
Whaling finally stopped, and the population of Southern Right Whales had a chance to recover. Today in the cold waters of Peninsula Valdes, in the Chubut Province of Argentina, mothers come in winter to give birth and nurse their babies in warm, protected waters. It's estimated that their numbers are now over 2,000 strong and each year the population has seen an increase.
A journey down a tiny coastal town seemingly on the edge of civilization led me to some of the most magical experiences of my life in the ocean. I'll be sharing plenty to come, so hopefully you're ready to learn about some whales!

*Photo taken with Government permit/supervision

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http://www.zshauladventures.com/, http://www.zshaulphoto.com/

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