A humpback whale, nicknamed Moon, has completed an approximately 4 800 km migration between Canada and Hawaii with a broken spine.
On 7 September, Moon was spotted swimming past the Fin Island Research Station, operated by BC Whales, WWF-Canada, and Gitga’at First Nation. Using their drone, BC Whales noticed the ‘unnatural S bend in the spine from the dorsal fin to her fluke.’
The injury is likely due to being struck by a vessel. Unable to use her tail fin, which likely caused her considerable pain, Moon used her front fins in a breaststroke style to propel herself forward.
On 1 December, the Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) shared photos of the same whale off the coast of Maui, over 4 800 km away from where she had initially been seen.
By the time she arrived off the coast of Hawaii, she was ‘completely emaciated and covered in whale lice.’
This incident further helps researchers understand the migratory patterns of whales and the lengths they will go to ‘to follow patterns of behaviour.’ They have also been able to further understand how whales pass on traditions and cultures to their young, according to Business Insider.
BC Whales believes that Moon will not survive long enough to make the return migration.
They remind us that Moon’s story is ‘the stark reality of a vessel strike, and it speaks to the extended suffering that whales can endure afterwards. It also speaks to their instinct and culture. It is on us to respect such tenacity within another species and recognize that vessel strikes lead to a devastating end.’
Humans need to work towards keeping whales safe and for boaters to ‘be aware of local laws and best practices.’
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