Ultimate Antarctica by Private Expedition Yacht

Humpback whales possess remarkable sensory adaptations that allow them to navigate, communicate and thrive in diverse marine environments. Expedition Leader Lianne Thompson dives into the roles the five senses of touch, hearing, sight, taste and smell play in humpback whale behaviors such as feeding, migration and social interactions. She also addresses conservation challenges like noise pollution and climate change and highlights the importance of protecting humpback whales and their habitats.

Dive into the underwater world of whales! Expedition Leader and biologist Andrea Adame introduces us to some of the whale family’s most well-known members, including humpbacks, orcas and gray whales, as well as other cetaceans (marine mammals characterized by their aquatic lifestyle, streamlined body shape and exclusively carnivorous diet) like dolphins and porpoises. You’ll also find out how you can witness gray whales in the wild during their winter migration to Mexico on our Great Gray Whales of Baja adventure!

Just like human fingerprints, many animals sport unique patterns of coloration, stripes or other features that let us identify them as individuals. Expedition Leader Maria Marcias explains how photo identification is used by conservationists to study and protect marine animals. Learn what identifying individual animals—in particular gray whales—can tell us about a species as a whole, and meet some gray whales that researchers in Baja have monitored for years. Plus, find out how your photos can aid in scientific data collection and conservation efforts!