December 11th 2024.
A humpback whale, a majestic and impressive creature, has recently completed a remarkable journey that has set a new record for its species. This incredible feat involved travelling a third of the way around the world in order to reach its breeding grounds. This remarkable adult male was first spotted by keen whale watchers at a breeding ground off the coast of Colombia, on the western coast of South America, back in July 2013. And much to everyone's surprise, he was seen again in the same area in August 2017.
However, in 2022, this humpback whale caused quite a stir when it was spotted off the coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania - an astonishing 13,000km away from its previous known location. This was quite a distance, even for a creature that is known for its migratory nature. While it may only be a short distance as the crow flies, it is a much longer journey when travelling by ocean routes. This unexpected and impressive journey has now been recorded as the longest known migration for a humpback whale in terms of longitudinal distance.
It is well known that humpback whales are migratory animals, often travelling up to 8000 kilometres towards the poles in search of food during the summer months, before returning to their breeding grounds for the winter. However, they typically follow the same routes each year and return to familiar locations. This makes the humpback's journey from west to east even more remarkable, as it is considered to be an extremely rare occurrence.
Previously, the longest recorded migration in terms of longitudinal distance was made by a female humpback whale, who was spotted at a feeding ground off the Antarctic Peninsula before turning up off the coast of Byron Bay in New South Wales in 2022. However, the latest journey by this male humpback has now surpassed this record, as detailed in a paper published in the Royal Society journal.
The reason behind this humpback whale's epic journey is still unclear. Some speculate that it could be in response to environmental changes or a shift in food sources, while others believe that the male may have been testing out new mating strategies. Whatever the reason may be, the researchers involved in this study believe that this extreme distance movement showcases the humpback whale's behavioural plasticity and ability to adapt to various pressures. It also highlights the important role this species plays in our ever-changing global environment.
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