NINGALOO TRADITIONAL OWNER DESCRIBES SPIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH HUMPBACK WHALES
BY ASAD KHAN
A Ningaloo Traditional Owner says her extraordinary encounter with two humpback whales highlights the deep spiritual bond her people share with the marine giants.
A SPECIAL AFTERNOON AT SEA
Hazel Walgar said she joined a whale tour on a quiet afternoon after feeling “a bit down and out.”
With tourists from across Australia and even a couple from Spain onboard, Ms Walgar said the group expected to see whale sharks but instead witnessed something far more profound.
“It was such a beautiful afternoon, just glass off and a gentle breeze as we left the marina,” she recalled.
“People had come from all over, and the Spanish couple’s dream was to swim with whale sharks. But that day, it was the humpbacks who came to us.”
LANGUAGE, SEASONS, AND STORY
Ms Walgar explained that in her language, humpback whales are called Djungarwara bonegi, meaning “lumpy back,” a reference to the barnacles on their skin. She described how their seasonal migration aligns with cultural knowledge of the land and sea.
“When the rains come, they wash nutrients into the ocean, and the Djungarwara bonegi arrive in abundance,” she said.
“For us, this is Nyarrawa season — springtime here in Ningaloo. They travel from Antarctica to rest in our warmer waters until October, when they begin their journey south again. We call that Warabara.”
SPIRITUAL BOND WITH THE WHALES
For Ms Walgar and her people, the whales are more than visitors — they are part of a living spiritual relationship.
“The humpbacks are highly respected by us Traditional Owners,” she said.
“We share a sense of welcome, trust, and safety. Just two spirits connecting. We don’t need to talk.”
During the encounter, two whales swam directly towards the boat, locking eyes with Ms Walgar as she sat at the front.
“I talked to them, and they could see me from a long way off,” she said.
“We had strong, strong eye contact. All I wanted to do was touch them, but we’re not allowed to. The people on that cruise had never seen anything like it.”
A MOMENT TOURISTS WILL NEVER FORGET
The whales remained with the boat until sunset, creating an unforgettable experience for Walgar, her family, and the tourists.
“They stayed with us until we left,” she said. “The tourists had been going out to see whale sharks and humpbacks for years, but they had never experienced them so close, just hanging there. The excitement they felt, and the connection I felt, was very special.”
For Walgar and the Ningaloo Traditional Owners, the experience was more than an encounter with wildlife. It was a reaffirmation of a timeless relationship with the Djungarwara bonegi.
“Very special, especially for us here, us Baiyungu mob, us Ningaloo mob,” she said.
Listen to Ngaarda Media’s Asad Khan speak with Hazel Walgar: