Wednesday, May 6, 2009

FIRST HUMPBACK – AN IMMEDIATE RE-CAPTURE?

A few days ago we brought you news from the first tour this year that the first humpback of the season had been sighted.

We were extremely happy with the first humpback sighting, and became even happier and surprised when we got it confirmed from the Husavik Whale Museum that this individual appears to be a re-capture from 2007! After comparing the humpback’s fluke with the Museum’s humpback whale catalogue, the Museum’s researchers came to the conclusion that this is the same individual that was sighted two days in a row in the beginning of June 2007, but has not been seen since (Husavik Whale Museum).

Humpbacks are migrating animals and travel long distances between breeding and feeding grounds. Iceland presents rich feeding grounds for them and therefore many humpback whales make their way up here for feeding. It is possible to characterise humpbacks by their pattern under their fluke whereas no two individuals have the same pattern.

This is great news and good to hear that humpbacks return to Skjalfandi Bay for feeding. Hopefully we will have more re-captures this summer …

DA

The first humpback of the season. Photo: Pieter Haringsma.