Record-breaking migration of humpback whale in search of new breeding grounds

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A humpback whale has set a record for the longest known migration between breeding grounds, spanning three oceans and over 8,000 miles. Scientists suggest that this extraordinary journey may be linked to climate change or a shift in mating strategies, driven by changing ocean conditions and competition for mates or food. Humpback whales are known for their long migrations, with some routes exceeding 5,000 miles. The whale in question was first photographed off the Pacific coast of Colombia in 2013, later spotted in the same area in 2017, and then seen off the coast of Zanzibar in 2022, traveling a distance equivalent to swimming from London to Tokyo and partway back. The exact reason behind this unusually long migration is unclear, but humpback whales typically travel annually from feeding grounds in the summer to breeding grounds in the winter. The research was based on photos submitted to the citizen science website happywhale.com, where individuals can report whale sightings and help map their movements around the world’s oceans. The database uses artificial intelligence to analyze photos and identify individual whales based on their unique shapes and markings, with a high success rate in matching humpback whale photos. Overall, this study highlights the remarkable distances that humpback whales travel and the importance of understanding their behavior in response to environmental changes.

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