Whale Spotter

The Legendary Pact Between Orcas and Humans Just Got More Mysterious A forgotten study reveals a twist in the legendary story of Old Tom, an orca believed to have been the leader of a pod of 30 orcas who hunted alongside human...

So where are you going to spot some whales from this ORRCA’s 27th Annual Whale Census Day Sunday 28th June 2026?

COME OUT FOR THE COUNT! 🐋

ORRCA’s 27th Annual Whale Census Day is happening on Sunday 28th June, and we need whale watchers right along Australia’s east coast to help us create a real-time snapshot of one of the world’s greatest wildlife migrations.

Whether you’re joining us at one of our official Census sites or counting whales from your favourite coastal lookout, every sighting contributes valuable data that supports whale research, conservation and rescue efforts.

Last year, together we recorded a record-breaking 5,995 whale sightings across 159 coastal locations. Let’s see what we can achieve in 2026!

📍 Check the map to find your nearest official Census site
📝 Register your location at www.orrca.org.au/census

Together, let’s make every whale count.

Great video on whale evolution 👍❤️👍

Scientists Have Found Something Strange Inside Every Whale on Earth In 1919, whalers hauled up a whale with legs - a discovery that would blow whale evolution out of the water. Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use ...

Twenty-two years and 15,000km later: fluke discovery sets new record for humpback whale journey Whale first photographed off the coast of Brazil in 2003 spotted off north-east Australia in September 2025

The record for longest journey ever made by a humpback whale has been broken after a whale was photographed in Bahia, Brazil, and then 15,000km away in Hervey Bay Whale Heritage Area, Australia! 🤯

The previous longest journey was made by a whale who travelled 14,200km in the opposite direction, from Hervey Bay Whale Heritage Area to São Paulo.

Sightings data from WCA Partner Happywhale was used in both cases to confirm the identity of the individual whales and record their incredible journeys.

Stephanie Stack, co-author of a new study about the two whales, said that it was “a good reminder that conservation of our marine resources needs to be collaborative between nations, because these are migratory animals that move across borders and between countries”: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/5/260251/481844/First-evidence-of-bidirectional-exchange-between

This global collaboration is the purpose and mission of the WCA! We partner with innovative organisations like Happywhale, and empower coastal communities like Hervey Bay through our Whale Heritage Areas programme, so that together we can make a real difference for whale conservation worldwide. Find out more about our work and how you can support us: https://worldcetaceanalliance.org/

(📷 Photo-ID of the humpback whale in Hervey Bay Whale Heritage Area, by Silke Stuckenbrock via Happywhale, CC0 1.0)

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An Island More Animal Than Human: Surfing with Orcas A scene from "Return to the Bering", the sequel to our award winning film "Island X". Surfers Noah Wegrich, Pete Devries, Mark McInnis and Alaska surf explor...

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Researchers have discovered two humpback whales have made the longest journeys ever documented, travelling between South America and Australia.

Using photos of whales’ flukes, or tails, scientists analysed images from the 1980s to identify individual whales.

One whale was first photographed in 2003, at Abrolhos Bank in Brazil, and was spotted in Hervey Bay 22 years later.

The same study found another whale had travelled from Hervey Bay to Brazil, completing a 14,200km journey.

For the full story, tune into 10 News QLD at 5pm.

Strange Humpback Whale Behavior and Mysterious Gaping Behavior Leave Scientists Baffled Scientists are investigating strange humpback whale behavior after unusual humpback whale gaping behavior left researchers baffled and sparked new marine biology questions.

Climate crisis linked to fall in southern right whale birth rates as researchers raise ‘warning signal’ Lead author of Australian study says breeding slowdown is linked to climate-driven changes in ‘magnificent’ whale’s foraging grounds