WHALErn West Hawai'i Aquatic Large Entanglement Response Network

02/17/2022

A female humpback whale traveling with a male and a calf has been freed after it was found entangled in a line with a large bundle of marine debris attached.

08/17/2021

08/16/2021

Not only is the dolphin vibrant leaping through the waves, but it almost seems fluorescent when it's underwater. And swimming alongside its grey-toned friend, it really stands out. This video was shot by Kate Cummings at the Monterey Bay, California.

07/06/2021

Humpback lunge feeding in the Monterey Bay. It may seem like the whale is about to hit the pelican above, but in reality, the pelican was much further back! The way that pelicans and many baleen whales feed is called "engulfment," in which predators open their jaws wide to surround masses of small prey with their huge, toothless maws. Epic shot by Patrick Coyne ()

Marine birds often take advantage of large schools of fish conveniently located right at the surface because of the whale’s behavior. The relationship between humpbacks and marine birds is an excellent example of commensalism; a type of symbiotic relationship where one species will benefit while not affecting the other species in a positive or negative way.

07/06/2021

07/06/2021

Whale Song...haunting and mysterious. The safety of these majestic beings is our focus.

06/24/2021

05/26/2021

Migaloo, the white humpback whale, is a part of Australia’s eastern humpback population. Although he is all white, scientists refer to him as ‘hypopigmented’ instead of ‘albino,’ because he doesn’t have red or pink eyes - he has brown eyes like other humpbacks.

Photo by Jenny Dean

05/06/2021

There is much we can learn from observing the graceful power of a humpback whale. For example, that power can exist without greed. Imagine a world where the power of compassion was stronger than the power of greed. There would be much less suffering on this beautiful planet we get to call home.

Photo by Sandford Photography

05/04/2021

“Regardless of its purpose, the humpback-whale song is the most complex piece of nonhuman composition on earth. Whether it’s art, prayer, or b***y call, the humpback song is an amazing thing to experience firsthand, and I suspect that even once the science of it is put to bed, it will remain, as long as they sing, magic” - Christopher Moore

📸 : Mike Korostelev

🐋 Join us in our efforts to protect the ocean soundscape upon which all marine animals depend: bit.ly/EarthDayOCR