It's Mating Season
Between May and September, the humpback whales of the Antarctic make the long journey from their icy home to the warmer waters of Mozambique. The whales embrace this lengthy migration to calf and mate where the water temperatures are higher.
During this season, the project has a whale expert called Pierre Gallego, who is currently studying for his PHD on Humpback whales. He will be with the project, carrying out his ongoing scientific research, and spending time with volunteers on a daily basis. This is a great and potentially enriching opportunity for volunteers as Pierre is also a marine vet, and represents the EU at the whaling commission.
Humpback whales are old enough to mate at approximately 7 years old, and a female whale, or a cow, is pregnant for 11-12 months. As you would expect, calves (baby whales) are born with the ability to swim! At this time of year in Mozambique, the water is still and the current is not as strong, making the waters crystal clear with optimum visibility.
Our project coordinator, Graeme Warrack, is very proud of what the project has achieved so far, and is elated that the project offers all types of marine life a safe haven. He says; “Our marine protected area has been our greatest achievement so far. We have teamed up with local fishing communities and manged to secure a large area in the local estuary and mangroves which is the main breeding ground for a multitude of fish species.
Humpback Whale Facts
- Whale migration from the Antarctic to warmer tropical waters compiles a distance of around 16,000 miles, making them one of the furthest migrating species in the world.
- There is no such a thing as an endemic humpback whale habitat, as they are found in the majority of the world’s major oceans.
- They are mainly solitary travellers, however when it comes to hunting, they form groups and exercise a hunting technique called ‘bubble blowing’. The group of whales circle their prey (species of fish such as krill), blowing bubbles at them to trap them.
- They have two main seasons a year; feeding season, which occurs in the colder waters, and mating season which occurs in warmer waters. The whales almost completely forgo food during mating season, and survive from the fat stores accumulated during feeding months.
- Humpback whales are famous for their whale songs, and due to their size these can be heard for many miles. Two whales that are many miles apart may sing the same song in unison, or they will change the songs they are singing to be in harmony with each other.
If you would like to witness the majestic humpback whales gliding peacefully through the water as they calf and mate, then please take a closer look at the project on our website.
