Humpback whale stuns scientists with document journey spanning three oceans to mate

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A humpback whale has been discovered travelling a record-breaking distance spanning three oceans to mate, elevating an alarm about world challenges affecting the migratory behaviour of the species.

Whales undertake one of many longest migrations to mate in comparison with all different mammals because the breeding zones of some species span a number of longitudes.

Although some whale migration routes are recognized to exceed 8,000km between feeding and breeding grounds, such long-distance motion between longitudes is “atypical”, scientists say.

In a brand new examine revealed within the journal Royal Society Open Science, researchers tracked the longest-known distance of round 13,000km travelled by a humpback whale between two breeding places – crossing practically a 3rd of the world.

Sighting locations of the male humpback whale between the breeding grounds G and C

Sighting places of the male humpback whale between the breeding grounds G and C (Ekaterina Kalashnikova et al, Royal Society Open Science)

Researchers first noticed the whale in 2013 within the East Pacific close to Columbia and photographed it once more in 2022 within the Southwest Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa close to Zanzibar.

This “extraordinary distance” is the longest recorded between sightings in several breeding areas for the species, scientists say.

The whale’s journey could also be an evolving adaptation in response to climatic and environmental modifications, shifting meals sources and mating methods, researchers say.

The brand new examine underscores the significance of consolidating world datasets on such wide-ranging marine mammals to review how large-scale environmental modifications are affecting their populations.

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Current proof signifies that whales are deviating from their recognized migratory locations and longitudinal motion patterns throughout oceans.

A earlier examine recorded six whales travelling throughout breeding grounds within the Abrolhos Financial institution close to Brazil and Cape City in South Africa between 2002 and 2021.

Photograph ID and genetic research are advancing the understanding of such motion patterns.

Within the newest examine, scientists carried out devoted surveys aboard analysis vessels all through the breeding season between July and September in Zanzibar and from July to October in Colombia, accumulating information on location, acoustic behaviour, group kind and dimension, and spatial distribution of humpback whales.

Humpback whale observed in the Gulf of Tribugá, northern Colombian Pacific, on 10 July 2013; in Bahía Solano, northern Colombian Pacific, on 13 August 2017; and in the Zanzibar Channel on 22 August 2022

Humpback whale noticed within the Gulf of Tribugá, northern Colombian Pacific, on 10 July 2013; in Bahía Solano, northern Colombian Pacific, on 13 August 2017; and within the Zanzibar Channel on 22 August 2022 (Ekaterina Kalashnikova et al, Royal Society Open Science)

One grownup humpback whale was first photographed in 2013 off the Gulf of Tribugá within the Colombian Pacific and noticed 5 years later in Bahía Solano, about 78km away. It was once more photographed in August 2022 off Fumba within the Zanzibar Channel, southwest Indian Ocean.

“This represents the longest recorded great-circle distance between sightings on two breeding grounds of a photo-identified grownup male humpback whale, which is the primary document of a humpback whale alternating breeding grounds between the Pacific and Indian Oceans,” researchers write.

The whale’s route of migration, nevertheless, stays unknown.

The newest examine gives additional proof of long-distance migration by humpback whales. Researchers say that understanding how incessantly these space shifts happen may help assess their population-level results.


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The Impartial


#Humpback #whale #stuns #scientists #document #journey #spanning #oceans #mate


Vishwam Sankaran , 2024-12-11 05:18:00

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