Scientists have documented two humpback whales undertaking separate, record-breaking migrations across the Atlantic Ocean, travelling approximately 9,000 miles (14,500 kilometres) between Australia and Brazil. These individual whales were identified through their unique tail markings, observed at both distant locations, using meticulous analysis of over 19,000 whale images collected over four decades by researchers and citizen scientists.
One of the whales covered an astonishing 9,300 miles (15,000 kilometres), surpassing previous record holders, with these findings officially published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. The epic voyages, travelling in opposite directions, have astonished researchers and challenge previous understanding of how separate humpback whale populations truly are, though the precise reasons for these journeys remain unknown.
These record-breaking journeys highlight the incredible distances humpback whales are capable of covering and the tracking methods employed could prove vital for monitoring these creatures as climate change warms the oceans.
