2 humpback whales swam record-breaking distance, photos reveal
Summary
Researchers found that two humpback whales traveled record-breaking distances between Australia and Brazil, covering over 8,800 and 9,300 miles. The study used thousands of whale tail photos and shows that some whales travel between distant breeding areas, which helps their populations stay healthy.Key Facts
- Two humpback whales were identified traveling between eastern Australia and Brazil.
- One whale traveled about 8,823 miles from Queensland (2007) to near São Paulo (2019).
- Another whale traveled about 9,383 miles from Bahia to Hervey Bay over 22 years.
- The distances are the longest recorded for humpback whale travels.
- Researchers used nearly 20,000 photos and an image-recognition tool to identify the whales.
- These journeys help whales maintain genetic diversity and can spread song styles between regions.
- The study supports the "Southern Ocean Exchange" theory, where whales may change breeding grounds.
- Climate change affecting the Southern Ocean might increase such long-distance travels in whales.
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