Scientists report that two humpback whales travel between breeding grounds in eastern Australia (including Queensland) and Brazil, crossing large areas of open ocean. Multiple outlets say researchers used a mix of observations and photo-based verification to track movements between sightings. ABC Australia and Phys.org describe analysis of a database of photos and fluke identification, documenting trips from Queensland to Brazil covering about 14,200 km, and open-ocean crossings of more than 14,000 km between the two regions. ScienceDaily adds that at least one individual whale covers a record distance between sightings, citing a journey of at least 15,100 km. The Guardian describes a whale first photographed off Brazil in 2003 and later spotted off north-east Australia in September 2025, giving a distance estimate of about 15,100 km (reported as roughly 15,000 km by some outlets). Deutsche Welle similarly characterizes the route as the longest lifetime journey on record for the species. Overall, the sources agree the findings establish the longest confirmed migration distances between verified sightings of individual humpback whales.
Humpback whales documented making record journeys between Australia and Brazil
Scientists report that two humpback whales travel between breeding grounds in eastern Australia (including Queensland) and Brazil, crossing large areas of open ocean. Multiple outlets say researchers...
- Researchers use photo identification (including fluke images) and a sightings database to confirm whale movements between Australia and Brazil.
- Two humpback whales are documented traveling between breeding grounds in eastern Australia and Brazil.
- The reported open-ocean crossings exceed 14,000 km across multiple sources.
- One individual’s distance between verified sightings is reported at about 15,100 km, setting a record for confirmed journeys.
- One whale is described as first photographed in Brazil in 2003 and later spotted off Queensland in September 2025.
Researchers have observed two humpback whales swimming between Australia and Brazil. It's the longest travel distance humans have ever recorded for the species.
3 months agoThe remarkable trip spanned an incredible 9,000 miles
3 months agoScientists have uncovered an astonishing new chapter in humpback whale migration: two whales were found to have traveled between breeding grounds in Australia and Brazil, crossing more than 14,000 kilometers of open ocean. One whale shattered records by covering at least 15,100 kilometers between sightings, marking the longest confirmed journey ever documented for an individual humpback whale.
3 months agoAn international team of scientists have documented, for the first time, humpback whales traveling between breeding grounds in eastern Australia and Brazil, crossing more than 14,000 kilometers of open ocean. The findings set new records for the greatest distances ever confirmed between sightings of individual humpback whales anywhere in the world.
3 months agoA humpback whale has completed the longest ever recorded ocean crossing, making the mammoth journey between Australia and Brazil.
3 months agoA humpback whale has completed the longest ever recorded ocean crossing, making the mammoth journey between Australia and Brazil.
3 months ago
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