{"id":43641,"date":"2024-11-07T11:04:10","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T10:04:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/349b994d-281b-48e8-902b-3a5f98ee0f12"},"modified":"2024-11-07T12:27:25","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T11:27:25","slug":"scientists-stuck-cameras-on-10-whales-in-australia-and-they-were-amazed-at-what-they-saw","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/scientists-stuck-cameras-on-10-whales-in-australia-and-they-were-amazed-at-what-they-saw\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientists stuck cameras on 10 whales in Australia \u2013 and they were amazed at what they saw"},"content":{"rendered":"

Researchers tagged the humpback whales to find out more about their annual migration along the east coast. <\/p>

By Melissa Hobson\n <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 07 November 2024 at 10:04 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Researchers in Australia captured incredible footage of humpback whales during their annual migration along Australia\u2019s Eastern coastline. <\/strong><\/p>

During the migration season, they successfully tagged 10 whales and recorded their movements and behaviour underwater in an effort to learn more about the species.\u00a0<\/p>

Humpback whales migrate along the east coast of Australia every year. Scientists tagged 10 of these whales to find out more about what goes on beneath the surface\/Getty <\/figcaption> <\/figure>

\u201cTo further our understanding of humpback<\/a> migration behaviour and patterns, it was really amazing to deploy 10 whale tags for tracking [and] witness competitive pods in action,\u201d says Olaf Meynecke, a whale expert at Griffith University who led the tagging project.<\/p>

They also had the opportunity to collect whale poo<\/a>, which will be analysed to understand how it helps fertilise the ocean. Meynecke says being able to collect the stinky surprise was \u201ca rare bonus for us researchers especially on the Gold Coast.\u201d<\/p>

See the ocean from a whale\u2019s eye view\/Griffith University <\/figcaption> <\/figure>

Along with this fascinating insight into whale behaviour, the researchers also saw heartbreaking entanglements.<\/p>

\u201cIt’s really disheartening to see fatigued whales dragging nets and fishing lines along the migration, or watching a new mother stuck in shark nets with her newborn in tow,\u201d he says.<\/p>

\u201cWe see this year after year and wonder when we\u2019ll begin to see less of it.\u201d<\/p>

Whale camera – below and above<\/h2>
Whale tag camera – below the water\/Griffith University <\/figcaption> <\/figure>
Whale drone \u2013 above the water\/Griffith University <\/figcaption> <\/figure>

Main image and video: Griffith University<\/em><\/p>

More wild stories from around the world<\/strong><\/p>