Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAustralian tourism operators and scientists have solved a mystery surrounding unusual humpback whale behaviour first observed in 2009. Observations of extended fluking, where whales float upside down with their tails exposed, helped researchers identify a major humpback “maternity ward” in the Whitsunday Islands. A collaborative citizen science project recorded hundreds of adult whales and newborn calves in the warm, shallow waters off Queensland. The discovery resulted in the creation of a dedicated Whale Protection Area in the Whitsundays with enhanced legal protections and vessel approach limits. The region has subsequently become the only site in the world where a Whale Heritage Area is located inside a UNESCO World Heritage Area. In fullTour guides make remarkable discovery about Great Barrier Reef whales: ‘Not even scientists knew what it meant’More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Tour guides help solve humpback whale mystery after 16 years
Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAustralian tourism operators and scientists have solved a mystery surrounding unusual humpback whale behaviour first observed in 2009. Observations of extended fluking, where whales float upside down with their tails exposed, helped researchers identify a major humpback “maternity ward” in the Whitsunday Islands. A collaborative citizen science project recorded hundreds of adult whales and newborn calves in the warm, shallow waters off Queensland. The discovery resulted in the creation of a dedicated Whale Protection Area in the Whitsundays with enhanced legal protections and vessel approach limits. The region has subsequently become the only site in the world where a Whale Heritage Area is located inside a UNESCO World Heritage Area. In fullTour guides make remarkable discovery about Great Barrier Reef whales: ‘Not even scientists knew what it meant’More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
