Humpback Whale Sets Record With 13,000-Kilometer Migration Across Three Oceans

A male humpback traveled the longest recorded distance for the species, raising questions about climate change and shifting mating behaviors.

The whale was first photographed off Colombia in 2013 and later reappeared near Zanzibar in 2022, spanning at least 13,046 kilometers.
This journey marks the longest recorded migration between breeding grounds for a humpback whale, crossing the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
Scientists speculate the migration may have been driven by climate change affecting food availability or the whale's search for new mating opportunities.
The discovery was made possible through the citizen science platform Happywhale, which uses AI to match whales by their unique tail markings.
Researchers suggest the whale's unusual route highlights the species' adaptability and raises questions about the impact of environmental changes on marine life.