Story perspectives

Humpbacks Log 15,000-km Record Migrations Amid Climate Concerns

5/24/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Scientists reported a humpback whale traveled from Brazil to Australia, covering about 15,100 km, the longest recorded migration.
A second whale moved opposite direction, traveling roughly 14,200 km between Hervey Bay and São Paulo.
The Pacific Whale Foundation used fluke patterns on Happywhale to match the whales, identifying only two cases in 19,283 photos (0.01%).
PhD candidate Stephanie Stack warned that climate-change impacts on krill could increase these extreme migrations.

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Story summary

Scientists reported a humpback whale traveled from Brazil to Australia, covering about 15,100 km, the longest recorded migration.
A second whale moved opposite direction, traveling roughly 14,200 km between Hervey Bay and São Paulo.
The Pacific Whale Foundation used fluke patterns on Happywhale to match the whales, identifying only two cases in 19,283 photos (0.01%).
PhD candidate Stephanie Stack warned that climate-change impacts on krill could increase these extreme migrations.