Longest migration – gray or humpback whales?

The news has embraced gray whales as the new winner for the longest mammal migration title, a superlative long thought to belong humpback whales. However, does the recently-released research really give the edge to gray whales?   In the case of the gray whale, tagging data provided the distance calculation, however, migration distances are typically based on calculating the shortest possible path between two points as researchers know where an individual moved from and where they went to, but not necessarily the exact path they took.  While there is no denying the gray whale movements are impressive, a straight line calculation, rather than actual movements, calls the migration title into question.  Researchers from Allied Whale, who curate the North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog, matched photos of a humpback whale who migrated from the Russian Arctic to the Dominican Republic, a journey of comparable length to the gray whale, but in the Atlantic.  So the question remains as to whether gray or humpback whales hold the title as the Longest Migrating Mammal.  Perhaps it belongs to another species entirely.  As we continue to learn more about these amazing whales, we realize there is still so much to discover! 

 

{But truth be told, we are hoping humpbacks remain the champs as we root for WDC’s humpback whale adoption star travelers, like Coral and Reflection.  Thanks to all our, past, current, and future whale adoptors who help to support WDC’s work, and share our vision of a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free! Interested in adopting a whale for yourself or as a gift? Go to WDC’s adoption page and thank you for your support!}