By uploading tail fluke photos to the HappyWhale base we have learned some interesting insights to one particular whale.
A humpback whale Glen Bradford photographed near Dent Island in the Whitsundays in August 2023, was first identified by Dr Trish Franklin from the Pacific Whale Foundation 35 years ago in Hervey Bay in September 1988.
Since the first ID sighting by Dr Trish there has been another 7 sightings.
In September 2004 she was photographed in Hervey Bay with a calf for the first time.
The last time when she was photographed in August 2023 by Glen in the Whitsundays she also had a calf.
Her ID# is HW-MN1100085
These are the sightings
From the sightings data we can tell that she is most likely at least 40 years old, is female being spotted with a calf on at least two occasions and regularly migrates along the East Coast of Australia.
Hopefully with more sightings from submissions to HappyWhale, we can add to her story in the future.
Humpback whales give birth every two to three years, with a gestation period of 11-12 months; so maybe she will be sighted and identified with a calf again this year, by a photograph submitted to HappyWhale.
For more information on this actual whale
https://happywhale.com/individual/27328;enc=175683
If you have any tail fluke photos, no mattered how old, as long as you know the date, please submit them to www.happywhale.com so we can learn more about individual whales.
To find out more about special whale events, whale sightings and information on whales in the Whitsundays, join the WHALES OF THE WHITSUNDAYS or go to
https://www.whitsundaymarine.org/projects
Contributed by Kellie Leonard Master Reef Guide/Whales of the Whitsundays
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