In a first, Indian coast plays host to female humpback whale from world’s most isolated whale population

Updated Jan 04, 2018 | 18:39 IST | Mirror Now Digital

The coast of Kochi in Kerala played host to a memorable guest, a female humpback whale, on New Year’s Eve 2018.

Humpback whale swims 1500 kms across Arabian Sea to India
Humpback whale swims 1500 kms across Arabian Sea to India 

The coast of Kochi in Kerala played host to a memorable guest, a female humpback whale, on New Year’s Eve 2018.

In the first recorded trans-oceanic crossing by an Arabian humpback whale, Luban swam over 1500 kilometres across the Arabian Sea starting from the coast of Oman all the way to the coast of Kochi in Kerala.

 

 

(Credits: Sanctuaries (NOAA)- verified Twitter account @sanctuaries)

When Luban started migrating eastwards in the Indian Ocean on November 12, it took scientists by surprise considering that the move was unconventional behaviour for the whale.

Past genetic studies have stated that though humpback whales, over the world, are known to migrate between polar and tropical regions, the ones found in the Arabian Sea, which number around 100, have not been known to stray far. Scientists have also deemed this school of whales as the most isolated whale population on earth.

According to a 2014 research study, Arabian humpback whales may even have stayed separate from other humpback species for nearly 70,000 years. But Luban’s landmark journey has changed all that.

The name Luban, an Arabic term for frankincense tree, was given to the female whale as she is learnt to have a tree-shaped pattern at the base of her tail fluke. She was the only female to be tagged with a transmitter among 14 whales by the Environment Society of Oman (ESO) under a project through which they aim to learn more about the habitats of the mammals as well as their population estimates.

Luban’s historic journey was tracked by satellites wherein she had come close to the Goan coast prior to Christmas and then spent a couple of days near the coast of Kochi before moving once again towards Alappuzha and the southern coast. Scientists pinpointed her last location near the coast of Kanyakumari.

A professor at the Kerala University said that Luban’s solitary journey could be a hunt for a male partner. However, he added that it is still not sure whether she is alone in her journey.

While marine biologists and researchers aboard a Coast Guard ship attempted to locate Luban on December 31, their efforts went in vain.

With Luban’s journey, scientists are optimistic about finding more about the Arabian humpback species, which are listed as ‘endangered’ on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Massive whaling in the 60s had reduced their numbers to a great extent.

As to what direction Luban might take from Kanyakumari, marine biologists are still unsure since the batteries on the transmitter attached to her dorsal fin work for only 45 days and may run out any day now.

Must See: Here are top 8 travel experiences that you should try in 2018

NEXT STORY