Male humpback whale crosses 8,000 miles across 3 oceans for sex; sets new distance record

In a remarkable odyssey, a male humpback whale traversed three oceans, breaking the distance record for its species. The whale’s journey, spanning 8,106 miles (13,046 kilometres), was revealed in a study reported by Live Science.

The journey began off Colombia’s eastern Pacific coast and ended near Zanzibar in the southwest Indian Ocean. Scientists identified this as the longest great-circle distance ever recorded for a humpback whale. A great-circle distance is the shortest path between two points on Earth’s spherical surface.

A collage of three images showcasing the tail of a male humpback whale in different locations in Colombia and Zanzibar. The same whale was observed in: (a) the Gulf of Tribugá, northern Colombian Pacific, on 10 July 2013, photographed by N. Botero-Acosta of Fundación Macuáticos Colombia; (b) Bahía Solano, northern Colombian Pacific, on 13 August 2017, photographed by E. D. Mesa of Madre Agua Colombia; and (c) Zanzibar Channel, off Fumba, on 22 August 2022, photographed by E. Kalashnikova. (Image: © 2024 Kalashnikova et al. R. Soc. Open Sci (CC-BY 4.0))

Challenging migration norms: A unique humpback odyssey

Ted Cheeseman, a doctoral student at Southern Cross University and co-author of the study, highlighted the unexpected nature of the find. "Our first reaction was to check for errors," Cheeseman shared with Live Science. The research was supported by Happywhale, an image database tracking whale movements.

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The whale likely followed ocean currents eastward, passing through the Southern Ocean and potentially interacting with humpback populations in the Atlantic. This journey marks a rare deviation from typical humpback whale migration patterns.

Humpbacks usually travel between feeding areas in polar waters and breeding grounds in the tropics. While their north-south migrations often exceed 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometres), east-west journeys are uncommon. Their populations typically remain distinct, with limited interaction.

Insights into humpback whales' unexpected ecological behaviour

This whale, however, defied norms, visiting multiple populations along its route. Its behaviour offers fresh insights into the species' ecological flexibility, Cheeseman noted.

Past records include a female humpback that swam 6,100 miles (9,800 kilometres) from Brazil to Madagascar between 1999 and 2001. Yet, the male in this study surpassed that distance, setting a new benchmark.

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Ekaterina Kalashnikova, lead author and biologist with the Tanzania Cetaceans Program, described the findings as crucial for understanding humpback whales. "This behaviour sheds new light on their ecology," she told Live Science.

The study underscores the immense adaptability of humpback whales, highlighting their capacity to explore and connect distant populations. It also opens new avenues for research into their migratory habits.