Scientists call it ‘epic’: A whale’s unusual 8,000-mile migration could reveal a worrying reason

A humpback whale has made one of the longest and most unusual migrations ever recorded, according to scientists.

The majestic cetacean was spotted in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Colombia in 2017 and reappeared years later near Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, traveling a distance of at least 8,000 miles.

This epic journey could be the result of changes in the global climate that are depleting food supplies or causing a search for new breeding grounds.

Ekaterina Kalashnikova of the Tanzania Cetacean Program hailed the feat as “truly impressive and unusual even for this highly migratory species.” According to Dr Kalashnikova, this is very likely the longest distance ever traveled by a humpback whale.

These whales inhabit all of the world’s oceans and are known for their long annual migrations. These migrations take them from tropical breeding grounds to feeding areas in colder waters.

However, this male’s journey was even more spectacular, as it involved crossing between two distant breeding grounds, which is extremely rare.

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Migrations in search of food

One theory suggests that climate change is altering the availability of krill, a small shrimp-like crustacean that humpback whales feed on. This forces them to travel much greater distances in search of food. Alternatively, the whales could be exploring new breeding grounds.

“While the actual reasons are unknown, the causes could include global climate change, extreme environmental events (which are becoming more frequent today), and species evolutionary mechanisms,” said Dr. Kalashnikova.

This voyage highlights the adaptability of humpback whales to a constantly changing world, as well as the importance of conservation for their long-term survival.

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The sightings of the animal, separated by a minimum distance of 8,000 miles, were verified using the great circle distance, which is the shortest path between two points on a sphere. This methodology helps scientists accurately calculate the whales' migratory routes.

The findings from this incredible journey are based on hundreds of thousands of whale photographs submitted by researchers, whale watchers and members of the public to the citizen science website HappyWhale.

This database uses artificial intelligence to compare the unique shapes and patterns of humpback whales’ tails, or fins, allowing their movements around the world to be mapped.

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