Mother and curious calf humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) with third adult in Drake Passage some 330nm north of the Antarctic Peninsula. This curious calf repeatedly approached the ship, pec-slapping and surfacing just in front of the bow. Calf had a single scar on both right and the left side dorsally just behind the blow holes. Humpback whale populations here are severely depleated from over fishing during the 20th century modern era whaling efforts. Beginning in the 2007/2008 season Japan has committed to killing 50 humpback whales a year for "scientific" purposes.


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Image ID: 0101772-MNO.jpg

Mother and curious calf humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) with third adult in Drake Passage some 330nm north of the Antarctic Peninsula. This curious calf repeatedly approached the ship, pec-slapping and surfacing just in front of the bow. Calf had a single scar on both right and the left side dorsally just behind the blow holes. Humpback whale populations here are severely depleated from over fishing during the 20th century modern era whaling efforts. Beginning in the 2007/2008 season Japan has committed to killing 50 humpback whales a year for "scientific" purposes.
Credit to: Blue Planet Archive / Michael S. Nolan

Image dimensions: 5400x3599

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Contained in galleries: Humpback Whale