Happywhale

Happywhale tracks individual whales throughout our world's oceans. What is Happywhale.com about? The vast majority of these are only known by five digit ID .

We have two goals: One, to open to you the wonderful world of knowing whales as individuals, and two, to create a deeper understanding of whales both through education and improved science. This work is a collaboration with Cascadia Research Collective of Olympia, Washington, to whom we provide whale encounter date gathered through participatory citizen science. Currently we are focused on the Humpback Whale population of coastal California, with plans to expand as we are able both to other regions and other species such as Blue Whales. We are still in a beta phase — please bear with any rough edges (and give us feedback!) You can upload images of Humpback Whale tails (flukes) via the ’Submit Images’ button at Happywhale.com. For every submitter, we will create an account and we will attempt to match your whales. As we develop, we will give you a login with access to your encounters, the history and stories that we know for your whales that we successfully match, and an ability to connect with others who have encountered the same whales. Meanwhile we will be sharing this data with scientists who use the data gathered to improve our understanding of whale population health. WHALE NICKNAMES — ASKING FOR YOUR INPUT!: Our known population comes from decades of work by Cascadia Research Collective, with upwards of 3000 individuals in the catalog. But we know some of these whales have nicknames that are already in use by specific groups. We want to gather these nicknames. If you have images of any Humpbacks or other California whales you know by name, please share (via the link on Happywhale.com — put nicknames in filenames, in the text field in the file submission process, or send by email to info@happywhale.com). We’ll gather known nicknames for use in the system. We would love for you to participate, to try to ID your photos, and to hear what you think of these efforts. Thank you for your interest!

01/09/2026

South Georgia’s whale research is only possible because of a unique partnership between scientists, IAATO expedition vessels, naturalists, and thousands of citizen scientists.

Expedition ships serve as mobile research platforms, naturalists document encounters and guide guests, and travelers contribute invaluable fluke and dorsal photos that help reveal migrations across the Southern Hemisphere.

With Happywhale connecting datasets from BAS, vessels, researchers, and citizen science contributors worldwide, we now have a clearer picture of whale recovery than ever before.

Swipe to see how collaboration drives discovery and how every person on the water helps write the story of South Georgia’s whales.

Your voice, your photos, and your advocacy matter.

LINKS:
https://www.fosgi.org/about-south-georgia/history/whaling/

https://www.bas.ac.uk/blogpost/giving-whaling-the-hump-a-story-of-whale-recovery-in-south-georgia/

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190329-a-world-isolated-from-life-by-1400km

https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/587/7242223?login=false

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50040887

https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/south-georgia/history

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/travel/south-georgia-island-recovery.html #

01/01/2026

South Georgia isn’t just a feeding ground, it’s one of the most important places in the world for understanding whale recovery. As humpback, fin, sei, and blue whales return to these waters, scientists can directly measure how populations are rebuilding after industrial whaling.

South Georgia also sits at the crossroads of global whale migrations, creating connections between Antarctica, South America, Africa, and the Pacific. Every fluke or dorsal photo submitted from this region helps reveal those pathways and fills crucial scientific gaps.

Swipe through to explore why South Georgia matters so much and how your sightings support real conservation science.

Your voice, your photos, and your advocacy matter.

LINKS:
https://www.fosgi.org/about-south-georgia/history/whaling/

https://www.bas.ac.uk/blogpost/giving-whaling-the-hump-a-story-of-whale-recovery-in-south-georgia/

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190329-a-world-isolated-from-life-by-1400km

https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/587/7242223?login=false

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50040887

https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/south-georgia/history

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/travel/south-georgia-island-recovery.html #

12/27/2025

Today, we’re diving deeper into one of the most extraordinary comeback stories in the Southern Ocean: the return of the Antarctic blue whale. Once hunted to the brink of extinction, these ocean giants remain Critically Endangered, and their recovery is still unfolding.

Despite their size, blue whales are incredibly hard to study. They roam vast, remote waters, feeding almost entirely on Antarctic krill and migrating thousands of kilometers each year. Thanks to global collaborative research, photo-ID, satellite tracking, and drone measurements, scientists are finally beginning to understand where they travel, how they feed, and what they need to survive.

In our latest South Georgia series post, we dive into new international research aiming to uncover:
🔹 How many Antarctic blue whales are alive today
🔹 Where they breed and migrate
🔹 How climate change and krill fisheries may impact their future
🔹 Why your photos from the Southern Ocean matter

Every ID, every sighting, every contribution helps scientists protect these truly lost giants of the Southern Ocean.

📸 If you’ve seen whales around South Georgia or Antarctica — submit your images to Happywhale.com!

Stay tuned as we continue to explore how science and citizen science are helping us protect the world’s largest animal.

Your voice, your photos, and your advocacy matter.

LINKS:

https://www.bas.ac.uk/project/south-georgias-lost-giants-the-antarctic-blue-whale-project/
https://www.fosgi.org/about-south-georgia/history/whaling/

https://www.bas.ac.uk/blogpost/giving-whaling-the-hump-a-story-of-whale-recovery-in-south-georgia/

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190329-a-world-isolated-from-life-by-1400km

https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/587/7242223?login=false

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50040887

https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/south-georgia/history

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/travel/south-georgia-island-recovery.html #

12/22/2025

New research has revealed something incredible: baleen whales eat three times more than we thought! Using high-resolution tags and acoustic prey mapping, scientists have finally measured what these ocean giants consume in a day and the numbers are staggering.

Before industrial whaling, Southern Ocean whales consumed 430 million tonnes of krill each year, recycling nutrients that fueled one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth. As whale populations recover, their role as ecosystem engineers is returning too - helping rebuild the ocean systems that were lost.

This study highlights just how important it is to protect whales and the ecosystems they sustain.

Savoca et al. 2021

Links:
https://www.fosgi.org/about-south-georgia/history/whaling/

https://www.bas.ac.uk/blogpost/giving-whaling-the-hump-a-story-of-whale-recovery-in-south-georgia/

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190329-a-world-isolated-from-life-by-1400km

https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/587/7242223?login=false

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50040887

https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/south-georgia/history

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/travel/south-georgia-island-recovery.html #

12/15/2025

After decades of absence following industrial whaling, whales are returning to South Georgia, but recovery isn’t happening at the same pace for every species.

Humpbacks and fin whales now appear hopeful numbers, while blue whales, once the most abundant giants here, remain far below their historical population levels.

This uneven recovery reflects the scale of past exploitation, species biology, and modern environmental pressures. By tracking these changes through photo-ID, acoustic monitoring, and long-term research, scientists can measure progress and identify where protection is still urgently needed.

Swipe to explore how whale populations are rebuilding and why some species still face a long road ahead.

Your voice, your photos, and your advocacy matter.

LINKS:
https://www.fosgi.org/about-south-georgia/history/whaling/

https://www.bas.ac.uk/blogpost/giving-whaling-the-hump-a-story-of-whale-recovery-in-south-georgia/

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190329-a-world-isolated-from-life-by-1400km

https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/587/7242223?login=false

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50040887

https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/south-georgia/history

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/travel/south-georgia-island-recovery.html

12/09/2025

Something extraordinary happened at South Georgia Island!
In recent days, observers reported an astonishing aggregation of humpback whales at the southeast tip of the island, estimated between 400 and 600 animals. This is one of the largest gatherings seen in the region in modern times, a powerful reminder of what recovery can look like!

Across the season so far, Happywhale has identified:

- 597 humpback whales

- 54 blue whale encounters, with 9 individual ID (requires excellent, high quality dorsal fin photos)

- 45 southern right whale encounters — 1 individual ID (head-from-above photos are key, and hard from tour vessels)

- 41 fin whale encounters, 0 individual IDs yet (fin whales are notoriously difficult to identify)

Every match tells us more about how these whales are returning, where they travel, and how they use South Georgia’s waters.

We need your photos from South Georgia! If you’re in the region, keep your eyes on the sea. Your photos help science! Submit sightings at Happywhale.com and be part of documenting this remarkable moment in recovery!

Your voice, your photos, and your advocacy matter.

LINKS:
https://www.fosgi.org/about-south-georgia/history/whaling/

https://www.bas.ac.uk/blogpost/giving-whaling-the-hump-a-story-of-whale-recovery-in-south-georgia/

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190329-a-world-isolated-from-life-by-1400km

https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/587/7242223?login=false

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50040887

https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/south-georgia/history

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/travel/south-georgia-island-recovery.html

12/09/2025

Something extraordinary happened at South Georgia!
In recent days, observers reported an astonishing aggregation of humpback whales at the southeast tip of the island, estimated between 400 and 600 animals. This is one of the largest gatherings seen in the region in modern times, a powerful reminder of what recovery can look like!

Across the season so far, Happywhale has identified:

- 597 humpback whales

- 54 blue whale encounters, with 9 individual ID (requires excellent, high quality dorsal fin photos)

- 45 southern right whale encounters — 1 individual ID (head-from-above photos are key, and hard from tour vessels)

- 41 fin whale encounters, 0 individual IDs yet (fin whales are notoriously difficult to identify)

Every match tells us more about how these whales are returning, where they travel, and how they use South Georgia’s waters.

We need your photos from South Georgia! If you’re in the region, keep your eyes on the sea. Your photos help science! Submit sightings at Happywhale.com and be part of documenting this remarkable moment in recovery!

Your voice, your photos, and your advocacy matter.

LINKS:
https://www.fosgi.org/about-south-georgia/history/whaling/

https://www.bas.ac.uk/blogpost/giving-whaling-the-hump-a-story-of-whale-recovery-in-south-georgia/

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190329-a-world-isolated-from-life-by-1400km

https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/587/7242223?login=false

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50040887

https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/south-georgia/history

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/travel/south-georgia-island-recovery.html

12/04/2025

South Georgia’s whales are recovering — but a new challenge is emerging.

In today’s post, we explore what happens when a once decimated whale population begins to rebound, and how this recovery intersects with the intense demand for krill in the Southern Ocean.

As whales return in greater numbers, understanding their role in the ecosystem — and the pressures they now face — is more important than ever.
Swipe through to learn what the latest science reveals, and how your photos help researchers track this rapidly changing story.

LINK: Savoca et al. 2024
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51954-x

Your voice, your photos, and your advocacy matter.

LINKS:
https://www.fosgi.org/about-south-georgia/history/whaling/

https://www.bas.ac.uk/blogpost/giving-whaling-the-hump-a-story-of-whale-recovery-in-south-georgia/

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190329-a-world-isolated-from-life-by-1400km

https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/587/7242223?login=false

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50040887

https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/south-georgia/history

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/travel/south-georgia-island-recovery.html

12/02/2025

Giving Tuesday is here and we’re excited to share something special with you!

This year, we’re teaming up with the amazing photographer Brooke Juhala () to support Happywhale, through Whales of Guerrero, () for a special Giving Tuesday offer!

If you are one of the first 30 people to donate $50 or more directly to Happywhale (through our fiscal sponsor Whales of Guerrero) by the end of next week you will receive a free 8x12 fine-art print generously donated by Brooke. It’s a beautiful way to bring the ocean into your home while supporting on-the-ground conservation.

www.brookejuhala.com

How to Participate:

1. Make your donation directly to Happywhale (through our fiscal sponsor Whales of Guerrero)

www.whalesinmexico.com

2. If you are within the first 30 people to donate you will receive your gift in the mail!

3. We will take care of the rest!

Your support today helps fund community science, education, whale monitoring, and the continued protection of migratory whales.

Thank you for being part of the Happywhale community and for turning gratitude into meaningful action.

**This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only — thank you for understanding!**

11/30/2025

Today, we’re stepping into one of the most haunting chapters in South Georgia Island’s history - the aftermath of industrial whaling, when the seas around South Georgia fell eerily quiet. Once alive with thousands of whales, these waters became nearly empty in just a few short decades. Join us as we explore what that silence meant for the whales, the ecosystem, and the future of this extraordinary place.

By the mid-1900s, South Georgia, once one of the most whale-rich regions on Earth, had fallen nearly silent. Industrial whaling had removed so many whales, so quickly, that entire species virtually vanished from these waters. The great whaling stations didn’t close because regulations stopped them, they closed because there were simply no whales left to hunt.

This sudden emptiness reshaped the island’s marine ecosystem and set the stage for one of the longest recovery stories in conservation.

Understanding the silence that followed the whaling era helps scientists measure today’s progress and recognize how far there is still to go.

Swipe to learn what the ocean looked like in the wake of industrial exploitation.

Your voice, your photos, and your advocacy matter.

LINKS:
https://www.fosgi.org/about-south-georgia/history/whaling/

https://www.bas.ac.uk/blogpost/giving-whaling-the-hump-a-story-of-whale-recovery-in-south-georgia/

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190329-a-world-isolated-from-life-by-1400km

https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/587/7242223?login=false

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50040887

https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/south-georgia/history

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/travel/south-georgia-island-recovery.html #

11/26/2025

The rise of industrial whaling in the early 1900s transformed the hunt into a fully mechanized industry. Steam-powered catcher boats, explosive harpoons, and factory stations made it possible to kill and process dozens of whales per day — a scale unimaginable during traditional whaling.

These technological advances dramatically increased efficiency, but they also accelerated the collapse of whale populations across the Southern Ocean.

Understanding how this industrial system worked helps explain why recovery has taken generations and why ongoing protection remains essential.
Swipe to see how industrial exploitation began — and how quickly it reshaped the oceans.

Your voice, your photos, and your advocacy matter.

LINKS:
https://www.fosgi.org/about-south-georgia/history/whaling/

https://www.bas.ac.uk/blogpost/giving-whaling-the-hump-a-story-of-whale-recovery-in-south-georgia/

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190329-a-world-isolated-from-life-by-1400km

https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/587/7242223?login=false

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50040887

https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/south-georgia/history

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/travel/south-georgia-island-recovery.html #

South Georgia Links:

https://www.fosgi.org/about-south-georgia/history/whaling/

https://www.bas.ac.uk/blogpost/giving-whaling-the-hump-a-story-of-whale-recovery-in-south-georgia/

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190329-a-world-isolated-from-life-by-1400km

https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/114/6/587/7242223?login=false

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50040887

https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/south-georgia/history

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/travel/south-georgia-island-recovery.html #

Choose a whale* — have you photographed an unnamed whale? Or we can help you select one

11/22/2025

Season’s Greetings, Happywhale Community!
Looking for a gift that lasts a lifetime? Adopt and name a whale!

Give the joy of connection, conservation, and a story that keeps growing with every sighting.
The holiday season is just around the corner, and if you’re searching for a meaningful gift that creates connection, inspires wonder, and supports real conservation, our Adopt a Whale program is the perfect choice! Whether it’s for a loved one, a child, a classroom, or even yourself, adopting and naming a whale turns a simple gift into a lifelong story.

Why Adopt a Whale for the Holidays?

A truly unique gift:
Instead of something that gets unwrapped and forgotten, this is a connection that grows year after year. Your recipient will receive a beautiful adoption certificate and ongoing sighting updates whenever their whale is photographed again.

A gift with impact:
Adoption donations directly support global whale research and collaborative conservation programs.

A personal story to follow:
Every whale has a life history — migrations, encounters, discoveries — and your recipient gets to follow along as that story unfolds!

How Adoption Works
1. Make a tax deductible donation to support ocean conservation by adopting a whale - CLICK HERE
2. Choose a whale* — or we can help you select one
3. Choose a name (see “naming advice” below)
4. Receive a digital certificate, perfect to print and gift-wrap
5. Enjoy email updates each time your whale is sighted in the years to come

It’s simple, heartfelt, and unforgettable. Your holiday gift becomes part of a global movement to connect people, science, and whales across oceans.

Ready to adopt for the Holidays?
Adoptable Whales
Have you photographed a whale? You can adopt your whale, or we can help you choose one!
Here are some beautiful humpbacks currently eligible for adoption:
* CRC-10703
* CRC-15126
* CRC-22198
* HW-MN1303780  Your photos, your enthusiasm, and your support fuel everything we do. This season, we’re grateful for the incredible community that helps protect whales — and we’re excited to see how many new whales find their names through your holiday gifts!
Warmly,
The Happywhale Team

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Santa Cruz, CA
95060

Website

http://www.happywhale.com/, https://linktr.ee/happywhale_official

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