Humpback whales have journeyed at least 10 thousand km. (Photo: Internet).
A female whale was discovered and photographed twice - once in its routine spawning in Brazil, and the second is off Madagascar. The shortest distance between the two locations is 9,800 km.
The team, led by Dr. Peter Stevick of the Atlantic College in Maine, said the whale may have gone that far in two separate journeys. It demonstrates the versatility of this intelligent animal in exploring and adapting to the living environment.
Dr. Peter Stevick said. ' Maybe this whale has made a regular move to Antarctica and to Madagascar since then. If it draws its path, it will be from Brazil to the Southern Sea and from the South Sea to the Indian Ocean '.
The team for a long time collected and examined whale tail images in an attempt to build a 'picture ' of humpback whale behavior and their migration patterns. Scientists can identify animals by taking photos of their tails or tail lobes. Each humpback whale has a unique identification on the tail lobe, like a fingerprint.
Close up of a humpback whale.(Internet photo)
Long movement between two different reproductive areas is a rare thing. And the event became even more special when it was a female whale, unlike the male whales that often traveled far to find their partners.
Dr. Stevick said this could be surveys to increase the adaptability of humpback whales to changes in the environment.