Humpback whales are making a splash in British waters as amazed viewers report sightings along the Sussex coastline
British wildlife watchers have been treated to an incredible spectacle in the first few weeks of this year as humpback whales make a splash in British waters.
The once endangered whales have been spotted along the Sussex coastline, all the way from Eastbourne to Hastings.
Other whales have appeared off the coast of Deal in Kent, while two more have been spotted in Cornwall in recent days.
Stunning videos show the 40-ton mammals taking majestic leaps above the waves before crashing down with a splash.
Whale experts say these sightings are not unheard of in Britain, but it is very rare for humpback whales to travel along the east coast.
Their sudden appearance has raised hopes that numbers of humpback whales could rise after they nearly went extinct in the 1990s.
However, some scientists worry that the changing patterns could be a sign that warming waters are pushing the whales further away in search of food.
Danny Groves, head of communications at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, told MailOnline: ‘Humpback whale populations generally recover after their numbers are decimated by hunting, but humpback whales may also be forced to change their movements as a result of changes. in the field of climate.’
Animal lovers in Sussex have been treated to an incredible spectacle during the first weeks of the year, as humpback whales make a rare appearance along Britain’s east coast. Pictured: A whale breaks near Hastings on January 3
Humpback whales normally appear off the west coast near Cornwall. But this year they were found traveling from the Arctic along the Sussex coast. Pictured: A humpback whale spotted by a member of the public in Hastings
Since the start of the year, humpback whales have been recorded by avid wildlife watchers appearing all along the south-east coast of Britain.
According to the Sussex Dolphin Project, which recorded these sightings, whales have now been spotted in Rye, Pett Level, Fairlight, Hastings, St Leonards, Bexhill, Pevensey and Eastbourne.
Previous sightings have also been made at Beachy Head in Sussex and Dungeness in Kent.
These sightings not only provide incredible views for nature lovers, but also provide valuable insight into whale behavior.
In one video, recorded just off the coast of Hastings, a whale can be seen breaching several times.
Scientists believe this distinctive behavior is used as a form of communication, allowing whales to send messages over great distances.
Similarly, a January 12 sighting in the Birling Gap shows a whale striking the water’s surface with its front pectoral fin.
In a post on Instagram, the Sussex Dolphin Project wrote: ‘This is a form of non-verbal communication to attract attention and communicate with other whales.’
The observations reveal some fascinating details of the whales’ behavior. In this sighting, made on January 12 in the Birling Gap, you can see a whale hitting the water with its pectoral fin. Scientists believe this is a form of long-distance communication
These sightings are made all the more exciting by how rare it is to see humpback whales in this part of Britain.
Humpback whales spend the winter in the Arctic Circle feeding on krill and herring before migrating south at the beginning of the year.
But their routes usually take them along the west coast of Britain, passing Newquay and the Isles of Scilly, where they are often spotted.
Dr. Carol Sparling, director of the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St Andrews, told MailOnline: ‘Although not as common as our more common whale species, such as minke whales, humpback whales are increasingly being sighted in Britain. in recent years, with winter being the prime time to see them.”
If you’re hoping to see a passing whale, Dr. Sparling says calm seas, binoculars and a lot of patience are needed.
The best areas are around Scotland, where this species can be seen alongside killer whales, minke whales and bottlenose dolphins.
But if sightings continue, there may still be chances to see these beautiful creatures on their migration to warmer waters to the south.
The sudden surge in whale sightings is seen by many as a promising sign that the species is on the road to recovery.
Whales have also been sighted in a number of places, including Cornwall (pictured). Experts believe that humpback whales use these jumps to send messages over long distances
Meanwhile, more humpback whales have also been spotted along their usual migration routes near Cornwall. Experts say this could be due to an encouraging increase in the humpback whale population since the abolition of commercial hunting. Pictured: A humpback whale seen from a drone in Watergate Bay in Cornwall on January 2
Due to commercialized hunting from the 20th century onwards, whale populations declined to critical levels in the 1990s.
But now that the whaling ban has come into effect, their numbers have gradually recovered.
There are currently an estimated 84,000 humpback whales living in the wild. The IUCN, the leading body for conservation status, now lists them as a species of ‘least concern’.
Dr. Sparling said: ‘Globally the humpback whale population is growing as it recovers following the cessation of commercial whaling, so we could still see increases in sightings in Britain.
“We could see a recurrence in areas that were regularly used prior to whaling.”
Humpback whales make some of the longest migrations of any known species, with one individual traveling more than 8,000 miles across three oceans, from Columbia to Zanzibar.
This means that the whales spotted off the coast of Sussex may be passing through and more research will be needed to determine if these animals are hanging out there.
‘Although this has not been proven, whales in Britain may interrupt their southward migration in winter to feed on schools of fish around our coasts, or they may be animals that do not make the full southward migration to reproduce. plants,” says Dr. Sparling.
But a growing number of whales in Britain is not necessarily a good sign for the species.
Global ocean temperatures have risen in recent decades due to human-induced climate change, which is having a major knock-on effect on global marine life.
Meanwhile, overfishing has depleted stocks of key species, leading to significant changes in the distribution of humpback whales’ feeding grounds.
This has led to concerns that whales are traveling outside their normal routes in search of a dwindling food supply.
Lauren O’Brien, spokesperson for the Marine Conservation Society, told MailOnline: ‘It is possible this is due to climate change altering the distribution of marine species, including humpback whales.
‘As a result, they may be forced to travel further in search of suitable habitat or prey, such as krill and herring.’
However, more observation will be needed to determine whether whale numbers are actually increasing and whether this is in any way related to climate change.
WHALE SONG EXPLAINED
For a long time it was believed that whales sang solely for mating purposes.
But some experts suggest the songs also help the mammals explore their environment.
Researchers have recorded that humpback whales change their calls when they move to new pastures, to match the songs of others around them.
Learning these songs helps whales better locate each other and group together in unfamiliar waters.
Researchers have recorded humpback whales changing their calls when they move to new pastures to match the songs of others around them (file photo)
It’s difficult for scientists to study how whales sing because the shy creatures are notoriously difficult to observe and each species sounds different.
Humpback whales sing using folds in the voice box that vibrate at low frequencies when air is pushed over them.
It has been suggested that they have special air sacs adjacent to these vocal cords that communicate with the lungs.
This allows the whales to move air between their lungs, sacs and vocal cords without losing their precious air supply.