The Whales of Guerrero Research Project
This season, an amazing group of citizen scientists and naturalists are returning to Zihuatanejo, Barra de Potosi, and Troncones to study the migration of humpback whales. Katherina Audley, the project founder, says that “season five” promises to be the best yet!
There are seventy-five miles of coastal waters along the state of Guerrero that is part of the Northeastern Pacific humpback whale migration route. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that at least two thousand individual whales travel south along this route each year. The Whales of Guerrero Research Project aims to discover how many humpbacks actually use or transit this area during their migration.
It’s a Baby Boom!
“It looks like we are having a baby boom this year, as we did in 2015,” says Katherina. “This means that the mother whales who came here in 2015 to have babies are back to calve again in the same place.
We have two things we didn’t have in 2015: 1.) 75 trained fishermen from Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Barra de Potosí leading the way for all regional fishermen to give the mothers and calves space as they nurse and rest in the waves by the beach and gather for their long, dangerous migration north; and 2.) A drone to capture mesmerizing footage of baby whales, resting on their moms’ heads at the surface of the sea, nursing and playing. With this technology, we can confirm that the calves here really are tiny and very likely born here, as some look like they are just a few days old!”
Look at this amazing footage!
Shot by Terra Hanks for the Whales of Guerrero Research Project. Barra de Potosí, Guerrero, Mexico
When the Kids Saw the Whales!
Kids are clamoring to meet the whales this year, as the whales are giving tantalizing performances in front of their school in Barra de Potosí, making it hard for them to focus on anything else. They FREAKED OUT when they saw the whales? Well, a video is worth a thousand words…
Video courtesy of the Whales of Guerrero Project
Training & School Programs
The Whales of Guerrero project also includes training programs for local fishermen and school programs in Barra de Potosí, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. The goal is to work together to support a culture of safe whale watching in the region beyond the trained group and a healthier ocean.
It’s a really special year, this season, and a great time to visit!
You can help this wonderful cause!
To find out more visit: http://www.whalesinmexico.com/ where you can sign up for updates or follow the project on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/whalesinmexico.