Campaign 01 – Eye in the Sky – South32 Rottnest Channel Swim

Eye in the Sky – Help us count the giants of our ocean!

They were hunted almost to extinction. Today, thousands of humpback whales return to Western Australia’s coastline every year. But just how many are there now?

A CWR campaign, in partnership with Grassroots and the Rottnest Channel Swim Association

For more than 35 years, Curt and Micheline Jenner and the team at CWR have dedicated themselves to answering this question, and to understanding the lives of the magnificent whales that migrate through our waters.

Now, we are ready to take the next big step.

Introducing Eye in the Sky, an ambitious new campaign to count our whales, monitor our dolphins and help protect the future of our precious marine wildlife.

From near extinction to an extraordinary recovery

In 1962, when commercial whaling ceased in Australia, only an estimated 200–300 humpback whales remained in the Western Australian population.

In 1990, CWR researchers began documenting individual humpback whales off the Dampier Archipelago using a harmless research technique called photo-identification. Much like a fingerprint or a human ID photograph, the unique markings on a whale’s body and tail fluke allow researchers to recognise individual animals and track them over time.

The early findings told an extraordinary story:

1962: an estimated 200–300 whales

1994: an estimated 2,000–3,000 whales

2010: an estimated 33,000–36,000 whales, based on aerial surveys in the Exmouth region

With annual population growth previously estimated at 10–12%, the recovery has been remarkable.

But sixteen years have passed since that last estimate. As more whales travel along our coastline, we need a new way to understand how many there are today and how their populations are changing.

The question is simple. The answer could make a lasting difference to conservation.

A new perspective: Eye in the Sky

CWR is developing an innovative aerial survey system that brings together aviation, artificial intelligence and marine science.

Our research aircraft, T4Z, a Diamond DA62, is equipped with an advanced, AI-assisted 13-camera detection system. The aircraft, pilot Tasmin Jenner and camera detection system are already in place.

There is just one crucial piece missing: a specialised gimbal-mounted camera.

This downward-facing camera will provide a stable, high-quality video feed to the AI-assisted detection system, helping researchers identify whales and other marine animals, record their GPS locations and track observations along the aircraft’s flight path.

With your support, we can bring this exciting technology to life and take a major step towards a new population assessment of Western Australia’s humpback whales.

The possibilities reach far beyond humpbacks

Eye in the Sky is about more than counting one species. It is about building a better understanding of the marine wildlife that shares our extraordinary coastline.

The same technology could help researchers monitor:

Pygmy blue whales in offshore waters around Perth Canyon, Ningaloo and Geographe Bay
Bottlenose dolphins around Rottnest Island and in the Peel-Harvey estuary near Mandurah
Dugongs and dolphins in the remarkable waters of Shark Bay

Imagine having a clearer, more timely picture of these animals and their movements: information that can help researchers, conservationists and decision-makers make better-informed choices for their protection.

Be part of something bigger

You do not need to be a scientist to make a difference.

Whether you are an individual who loves whales, a family passionate about the ocean, a local business, a community group or a corporate organisation looking to support meaningful environmental work, you can help make Eye in the Sky a reality.

Every contribution brings us closer to acquiring the specialised camera system needed to complete this research tool. Your support can help turn an ambitious idea into a practical conservation resource.

CWR is working alongside Grassroots and the Rottnest Channel Swim Association, which runs the South32 Rottnest Channel Swim, to help build broader community support for marine research and conservation.

Together, we can help shine a light on the health of our marine wildlife and strengthen our understanding of the whales and dolphins that inhabit Australian waters.

Help us keep an eye on our ocean

The recovery of Western Australia’s humpback whales is one of nature’s great conservation stories. Now, we have an opportunity to discover what comes next.

Will you help us count the giants? Will you help us watch over our dolphins? Will you help us protect the marine life that makes Western Australia so special?