#humpback-whales

#humpback-whales

The clutch of remora fish are holding on tight, but collectively release their grip just as the humpback whale they are riding breaches the surface of the ocean. Moments later, everyone is back on board, as the whale re-enters the water, all hurtling together off the coast of south-east Queensland. This rare footage of suckerfish was captured by marine scientist Dr Olaf Meynecke from Griffith University using camera tags attached to humpback whales. The remora are able to sense the change in speed and water depth, he said. It was amazing to see how fast and nimble they were during several different rides with the whales.

The number of whales getting tangled up in fishing nets, line, buoys and other miscellaneous rope off the coasts of the United States hit a record high in 2024, with California taking the ignominious lead. According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, there were 95 confirmed entangled whales in U.S. waters last year. Eighty-seven were live animals, while reports for eight came in after the animals had died.

It is the beginning of August and a crowd is gathered on the deck of the American Princess cruise boat waiting for one thing and they are not disappointed. Suddenly, a juvenile humpback whale, known as NYC0318 in local records, bursts through the surface of the water, engulfing thousands of small, oily fish. For those onboard the 29-metre (95ft) vessel, the scene is a thrill to watch.

"In a way, we're reading the mind through the nose," says neurobiologist and study co-author Noam Sobel, referring to how breathing patterns could indicate physical or mental states.

Humpback whales, which now number between 30,000 and 50,000, have made a remarkable recovery, returning from near extinction due to aggressive hunting efforts in the past.

Despite their large eyes, humpback whales possess limited visual acuity, comparable to nearsightedness, which significantly increases their risk of entanglement in fishing gear.

More than 200 confirmed sightings of newborn humpback calves across a vast area, suggesting a shift in the perceived calving range for these whales.