Humpback whales give birth while migrating and carry on traveling, research reveals
- Humpback whales can give birth as far south as Tasmania or New Zealand, which is 1,500 km further south than previously known.
- Researchers state these findings challenge the old belief that migrations to tropical waters are essential for birth.
- Hundreds of humpback calves were born outside established breeding grounds, according to new research.
- The study indicates that mother whales with calves are traveling through busy shipping lanes and urban areas.
63 Articles
63 Articles
Baby on board: Humpback whales give birth while migrating and carry on travelling
Some humpback whale babies are born on the move. We used to think that humpback whales lived in cold waters for half of the year, eating lots of krill to develop reserves for migration and reproduction, and then travelled to tropical waters because they need the warmth and safety to give birth and nurse new calves. But new research reveals that humpback whales around Australia and New Zealand can give birth much further south than we expected. T…
Surprise baby whale sightings reveal there's still much to learn about humpbacks
Humpback whales are not always born in tropical waters, new research has shown -- challenging long-held assumptions about their breeding and migration behaviors, while raising new questions for marine conservation.

How humpback whales give birth on the go
A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science challenges long-held beliefs about humpback migration.
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