Whale Profiles

The humpback whales below were tagged in New Caledonia and The Cook Islands in the South Pacific. The whales that visit New Caledonia come back to the same islands every year to rest, give birth and breed.

These whales come from small, unrecovered populations which are distinct from the humpbacks from other areas in the Pacific.

When a whaler lines up a whale, ready to shoot the harpoon, he won't know if the whale in his sights is from this small, unique population where the death of one whale can have dramatic consequences for the survival of the group, or from more abundant populations.

The information provided by the satellite tags will provide vital data on the movements, habitat use and population structure of these unique whales.