Whales: Identifying Tails
In Whales: Identifying Tails, surfer Ted Cheeseman talks about his photo identification service, Happy Whale. Whales' tails show their life story, from bitemarks, barnacles, and scars. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Natural World: Humpback Whales — A Detective Story, a documentary about our relationship with whales and their future alongside us.
Lesson Express
Q: Why do you think humpback whale tails are so fascinating?
A: Each tail, or fluke, is unique. The shape, size, and markings on the tail help scientists identify individual whales, track their movements, and understand their behaviors.
Q: What are some things that can be discovered by looking at pictures of whale tails?
A: By examining pictures of whale tails, scientists can identify individual whales and track their migration patterns. The unique features on each tail, such as scars, markings, and the shape of the fluke, provide information about the whale's life.
Q: How does identifying whales by their tails help scientists understand their behavior and migration patterns?
A: It allows scientists to track individual whales over time, helping them understand long-term behaviors like migration routes and feeding habits. This information is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies to protect whales and their habitats.
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In Meet the Humpback Whale, naturalist Steve Backshall swims with humpback whales. He sends a drone out to capture footage of them playing and breaching the water around Isla de la Plata in Ecuador. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
In The Sophisticated Feeding Technique of Humpback Whales, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the Southern Ocean and the humpback whales that feed there. When Antarctica broke off from South America, it created swirling currents that sweep up nutrients from the bottom of the ocean, making it one of the richest waters on earth. In the summer, humpback whales come there to feast on shoals of krill, blowing curtains of bubbles and spiraling inwards to capture the swarm. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.