Drone footage shows the secret life of rare whales

Bryde's whales, which are still targeted by Japanese whaling ships, are listed as critically threatened in New Zealand, with less than 200 remaining in the South Pacific nation's waters, and about 100,000 worldwide. -Institute of Cetacean Research/ AFP

WELLINGTON: New Zealand researchers have captured stunning drone footage of endangered whales feeding off the Auckland coast, giving an unprecedented insight into the majestic giants of the sea.

In a world-first use of drone technology, the researchers dispatched a customised “eye in the sky” so they could observe the rare Bryde’s whales without disturbing them.