Humpback Whales: Belize's Seasonal Visitors

Humpback whales are a very rare sighting in Belize, with only two confirmed sightings in the country's history. The first was in 2011 at Turneffe Atoll, and the second was in 2016 off the mainland coast between the Placencia Peninsula and Port Honduras Marine Reserve. Humpback whales are known to travel great distances during migration season, and they can grow to more than 50 feet in length. They are popular with whale watchers due to their distinctive breaching behaviour, where they propel their bodies out of the water.

Humpback whales are very rare in Belize

In 2016, residents of southern Belize witnessed a rare sighting of a humpback whale known to migrate along the shallow coastal areas off the mainland and offshore cayes. Some witnesses reported seeing one whale, while others reported two. The last sighting of the humpback whale(s) was on March 3 near Riversdale, just north of Placencia. It is presumed to have found its way back out to the Caribbean Sea.

Humpback whales are known to travel great distances during migration season. They travel to tropical and subtropical waters to breed and give birth. Weighing in at more than 79,000 pounds, humpbacks live on a diet of krill and small fish and can grow to more than 50 feet in length. Humpbacks are popular with whale watchers because they can breach or propel their bodies out of the water, as well as execute other distinctive behaviours on the surface.

While humpback whales are very rare in Belize, there are other whale species that can be found in the country's waters. These include pilot whales, false killer whales, dolphins, sperm whales, orcas or killer whales, and whale sharks (which are not whales but very large fish).

Humpback whales migrate to tropical and subtropical waters to breed and give birth

Humpback whales are known to travel great distances during their migration season. They migrate from the icy waters of Antarctica to the tropical and subtropical waters of Queensland, Australia, to breed and give birth.

The humpback whale calves are born relatively helpless, so the warmer waters of Queensland provide a more stable environment for them to feed, grow, and learn. The warm and sheltered coastal areas offer relative protection for young calves to grow and learn to support their survival on the maiden trip back to Antarctica.

Breeding grounds offer an opportunity for humpback calves to observe and learn important behaviours and communication skills. They will interact with their mothers by brushing fins and whispering, and mums have also been known to breach before young calves spend time mimicking the behaviour.

Humpback whales are promiscuous breeders, with both sexes having multiple partners. Males will frequently trail both lone females and cow-calf pairs. These are known as 'escorts', and the male closest to the female is known as the 'principal escort', who fights off the other suitors known as 'challengers'.

Humpback whales are highly attuned to environmental cues. This seasonal change and decline in food availability prompts whales to instinctively embark on their journey north. They possess an innate sense of navigation, following magnetic fields, ocean currents, and temperature gradients to return to the breeding area of their birth.

Humpback whales are generalist feeders, and their diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. They use bubbles to catch prey, and they are often found feeding in large compact gatherings numbering up to 200 individuals.

Humpback whales are found in marine waters worldwide, except for some areas at the equator and High Arctic and some enclosed seas. They are usually coastal and tend to congregate in waters within continental shelves.

Humpback whales can grow to more than 50 feet in length

Humpback whales are a species of baleen whale and are the only species in the genus Megaptera. They are also members of the rorqual family, which includes blue, fin, Bryde's, sei and minke whales. Humpback whales are distinguished by their body shape, with long pectoral fins and tubercles on their heads. They are known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviours, making them popular with whale watchers.

Humpback whales are large creatures, with adult lengths ranging from 14 to 17 metres (46 to 56 feet) and weighing up to 40 metric tons (44 short tons). The species can reach body masses of 40 metric tons (44 short tons), with calves being born at around 4.3 metres (14 feet) long and weighing about 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds).

Humpback whales are found in oceans and seas worldwide and typically migrate up to 16,000 kilometres (9,900 miles) each year. They feed in polar waters and migrate to tropical or subtropical waters to breed and give birth. Their diet consists mostly of krill and small fish, and they use bubbles to catch their prey.

Humpback whales are promiscuous breeders, with both sexes having multiple partners. They are also known for their complex songs, which typically last 4 to 33 minutes and can travel at least 10 kilometres (6.2 miles).

Humpback whales are a migratory species, spending summers in temperate and subpolar waters and mating and calving in tropical and subtropical waters closer to the equator. They are often seen in Alaska and tend to congregate in waters within continental shelves. An exception to this rule is a population that remains year-round in the Arabian Sea.

Humpback whales were heavily targeted by the whaling industry, with numbers severely reduced during commercial whaling. They were once hunted to the brink of extinction, with populations falling to around 5,000 by the 1960s. Numbers have partially recovered to some 135,000 animals worldwide, although entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and noise pollution continue to affect the species.

Humpback whales are popular with whale watchers

Humpback whales are often found near coastlines, making them easily accessible to whale watchers. They are also relatively common, with a worldwide population of around 135,000. They are found in every ocean in the world, except for some areas at the equator, the High Arctic, and some enclosed seas. They typically migrate up to 16,000 km each year, travelling to tropical or subtropical waters to breed and give birth.

Humpback whales are also a popular attraction due to their size and distinctive body shape. Adults range in length from 14-17 m and weigh up to 40 metric tons. They have long pectoral fins, a distinctive hump in front of their dorsal fins, and bumps or tubercles on their head and front edge of their flippers.

The humpback whale's popularity with whale watchers has contributed significantly to the growth of commercial whale watching. Whale watching generates $2.1 billion per annum in tourism revenue worldwide, employing around 13,000 workers.

Humpback whales were once a target for whalers

Humpback whales are highly intelligent creatures, capable of elaborate thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, and sophisticated communication. They are also known for their altruism, as they have been observed protecting other species from killer whale attacks. This behaviour may be driven by a combination of factors, including the possibility of related calves being targeted and a form of reciprocity, where the benefit to other species justifies a change in humpback habits.

Humpback whales are the sole representative of the Megaptera genus and are distinguishable by their distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and tubercles on their head. Adults range in length from 14 to 17 metres and can weigh up to 40 metric tons. They are promiscuous breeders, with both sexes having multiple partners, and are found in oceans and seas worldwide.

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