Humpback Whale Distance Record

Have you ever taken a photograph and it be used as evidence that changed records? This exactly happened to Norwegian tourist Freddy Johansen when he snapped a diving humpback whale just off Madagascar. His photographs lead to a scientific discovery. Researchers from College of the Atlantic's Allied Whale saw the image on the internet and found that the same whale had also been photographed in the waters off Brazil - a quarter of the way around the world - further than that recorded by any mammal.

Evidence showed the whale had moved between two different breeding groups, a very rare occurrence for this species. This finding has implications for understanding and managing whale populations worldwide.

The photographed whale had travelled across the Atlantic Ocean, around Africa and a distance into the Indian Ocean; nearly twice as far as the passage typically made by humpbacks in their annual north-south migration between winter breeding grounds in warm tropical waters and the nutrient-rich colder waters where they feed in summer.
Like in humans, all finger prints are different, the photographed humpback whale was identified by its distinctive tail markings. For the past 30 years The College of the Atlantic (COA) have been cataloguing humpback whales around the globe in order for scientists and individuals to share data.

The catalogues they have collated consist of photographs from breeding and feeding areas throughout the humpback's range in both northern and southern hemispheres, providing a unique clearinghouse for scientific analysis of humpback movements.
Submitting your photographs of whales to the COA can help and assist in plotting the migration as well as behaviour of such mammals.

Source: Royal Society scientific journal Biology Letters, Wildlife Extra News, various other sources

Marine Conservation
Volunteer Compass is a professional organization specializing in the field of Marine Conservation. Through our contacts we are invited and offered to participate in projects around the world that need help. Projects that involve animals such as dolphons, whales, seals, sealions, porpoise and projects centred around coral protection and conservation.

Wildlife Conservation
Volunteer Compass work with numerous grass-roots NGOs, voluntary sector groups, conservation parks, institutes and professional bodies placing volunteers within conservation projects; supporting and protecting animals such as pandas, lions, tigers, birds, elephants and big game.

Where do our volunteers come from?
Volunteer Compass' volunteers come from all walks of life and from all over the globe - just to volunteer on worthwhile and ethical projects. Volunteers come from countries such as England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Southern Ireland (Eire), USA, Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and all over Europe.

What do our volunteers do as a 'day job'?
Our volunteers have one passion - and that is to volunteer their time, expertise and efforts in helping Marine or Wildlife projects. We have Managers, gap year students, Professionals, bankers, school teachers, scuba divers, retired people, lawyers, factory workers, university students, housewives, social workers, archaeologists, builders, electricians, computer experts and many more people from diverse backgrounds joining our projects. Whatever your background, it will be easy to place you on a project that you will be proud of.