The power and spectacle of a 40 ton humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching clear out of the water is truly unforgettable. Humpback whales are the acrobats of the ocean and the minstrels of the sea! Breaching can be used in many ways by a whale depending on the situation. Male whales competing for available females […]
Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) are a cosmopolitan rorqual whale, one of the eight or nine extant species of whale (there are 5 extinct species) recognised for their unique filter feeding mouth parts, their baleen plates. Most of these species are migratory, travelling huge distances between summer polar feeding regions and winter tropical breeding grounds. Fin […]
Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) raise their huge strong flukes in a deep sounding dive reaching depths of 3 km for up to 2 hours. At depth, they feed on squid which they stun with powerful blasts of focused echolocation clicks, before crushing them with their peg-like teeth. Sometimes white, ring-shaped, scars from the suckers on […]
A bottlenose dolphin calf that accidentally became entangled with a recreational fishing net last summer was named Gizmo by researchers at Murdoch University studying their movements in the Swan River, at Perth, Western Australia. Several attempts were made by Department of Environment and Conservation authorities to free Gizmo, but with mum being extremely protective and […]
Read the account of the first breaths of a new-born humpback whale calf witnessed by Curt and Micheline Jenner at Tantabiddi, Exmouth on July 19, 2009. A Whale Biologists’ Holy Grail Centre for Whale Research scientists Curt and Micheline Jenner were in for a non-typical “day at the office” last week as they finished a […]
Leaving Malta on November 18, 2010 and arriving on February 25, 2011 we experienced a wonderful voyage the long, safe way home! This is our journey in a nut-shell… 109,000 litres of diesel fuel, 13,000 nautical miles, 16 crew members ,16 species of cetaceans, , 9 currencies, 8 ports of call, 7 Journey Legs, 6 […]
In October 2010 Curt and Micheline, along with their two girls, Micah and Tasmin and new crew member Kate Sprogis, flew to the Southern Mediterranean country of Malta to take delivery of their new research vessel Whale Song. Dale Peterson, Peter Sandison, Gwen Penry and Jenny Shaw joined them at the Manoel Island Yacht Yard […]
The Whale Song will allow the Centre’s scientists to explore areas never before examined for cetaceans. The Centre aims to identify areas critical to cetacean biology in order to guide human development before these majestic animals and their habitats are lost forever through our ever expanding need for food and energy. Full story……
Linking physical oceanographic variables with whale distribution is the latest technique the Centre is using to guide industry and government in regards to developing deep water areas never previously examined for cetaceans. Industry leaders INPEX, Woodside Energy and Shell have help fund the Centre’s ambitious plans to begin mapping the deep off-shore waters of Western […]
The Centre is about to begin a new phase of exploratory research in Australian waters. Little to nothing is known of whale and dolphin distribution in Australian EEZ waters beyond the coastal zone – a problem that must be overcome if Australia is to be continued to be seen as a world leader in cetacean […]
