Research Updates

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Year In Review: Key Accomplishments & Statistics

Safe Waters During Winter "Whale Season"

The State of Hawaii, using our expert testimony, dedicated the four island region of Maui County (Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe) as a thrillcraft- and parasail-free zone during the winter "Whale Season" (December 15th-May 15th of each year). This designation ensures the critical habitat within this area from this type of human disturbance.

Hawaiian Island Humpback National Marine Sanctuary Designation

With help from the Center's research scientists, the designation of the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary furthers this endangered species' protection.

Continued Support of Central Fluke Identification Repository

Scientists from the Center continued to support the National Marine Mammal Laboratory's central fluke identification repository at NOAA's (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's) headquarters in Seattle, WA. Using the Center's collection of fluke photographs of mothers and calves, the working group has continued the organization and analysis of each research team's photo set with the Center's. The goal of the working group is to begin to understand the rate of survivorship of the endangered humpback's calves. A report has followed and a scientific paper has been published.

On-the-Water Ambassadors & Stewards

While out on the water, we have daily "on water" consultations (conversations) with numerous whale-watch tour boats on the Maui waters, impacting over 100,000 visitors annually. These recurring on-the-job conversations enables us to act as stewards. We have the unique opportunity to reinforce the message of awareness, education, and ultimately, preservation for this endangered species with the tour boat pilots and their groups.

IMAX Attendance in the Millions

To date, the critically acclaimed IMAX film, Whales, has reached millions of people. This film features the Center's research on the humpback whale and further expands the Center's research.

Overview of Our Research Focus & Results

During our study period, we have continued to focus our research on identifying individual humpback whales by both tail fluke and body pattern identification.

We documented humpback whale behavior from both above and below the water surface, determining the sex and social roles of individual whales.

We compiled re-sighting histories of known individuals, determined calving intervals of known females, collected sloughed skin samples for genetic analysis to obtain DNA fingerprints, and recorded the distribution of mothers and calves.

By The Numbers

During the our annual study, we obtained over 21,500 still images and 32 hours of digital video to document the whales and their behavior.

Also collected were 51 sloughed skin samples for genetic analysis.