A humpback whale has set a world record for the longest journey ever recorded by a whale, traveling an incredible 13,046 kilometers (8,106 miles) from South America to East Africa. Scientists say this is the first time they’ve seen an adult male humpback swim between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The whale was first seen in Colombia in 2013 and showed up in the same area a few years later. But in 2022, it surprised everyone by appearing near Zanzibar, off the East African coast. Researchers identified it thanks to its unique tail markings, which work like a whale fingerprint. They used a platform called Happy Whale, where people upload photos of whale tails to help track them.
This whale’s journey is extraordinary because humpbacks usually stick to the same migration routes every year. For example, some migrate between Alaska and Hawaii, or between the North Atlantic and West Africa. But this whale decided to break the rules and travel between two completely different breeding grounds.
Scientists think this wasn’t an accident—humpbacks are great navigators and don’t get lost easily. Instead, the whale may have been looking for a new place to avoid competition for mates or because food was hard to find in its usual area.
This kind of adventurous behavior could actually help whales in the long run. By exploring new areas, they might connect with other whale populations, spreading new habits or even genes. Scientists believe this could help whales become more of a “global community,” sharing ideas and adapting to new challenges.
The whale’s current location is unknown, but platforms like Happy Whale make it easier for researchers and even everyday people to keep track of whales. The database already includes over 109,000 whales, making it a powerful tool for global whale research.
This whale’s epic journey shows how connected the oceans are and how adaptable humpbacks can be. It also offers hope for the future of a species still recovering after nearly being wiped out by hunting in the past century. Who knows—this record-breaking whale might inspire more surprises in the future!
Sources:
– Humpback whale swims over 13,000 km setting a new record in quest for a mate.
– Male humpback whale makes record-breaking migration
