South Georgia Right Whale project – Whale Tracking

The British Antarctic Survey whale research team at King Edward Point have been studying whale movements and patterns of habitat use in South Georgia waters.

South Georgia was at the epicentre of modern whaling in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 170,000 whales killed within a days sailing of its shores. This suggests it was a very important place for whales in the past, perhaps due to its immense seasonal productivity and influx of Antarctic krill, which supports many thousands of fur seals and penguins.

For the first time ever we can now follow South Georgia whales in real time as they journey across their summer feeding grounds, to find out where they go and how they use this habitat.

Southern Right Whales

One southern right whale (Disco) was tagged on the 9th March 2024 near Ocean Harbour as part of the BAS DARWIN PLUS Hungry Humpbacks project, and the following map is tracking their movements in near real time (updated three times a day).

Our work helps us to find out where southern right whales go in the austral autumn, and to track them on their return migration to wintering grounds when they have finished feeding. This work helps us to better understand whale feeding rates and dive patterns, and where whales feed in relation to areas of high primary productivity such as the Antarctic polar front, krill fishery hotspots, and the Marine Protected Areas of the region.

Humpback Whales

Two humpback whales were tagged on the 19th and 21st January 2019, and the following map shows their movements, including one full migration to Brazil.

This work is supported by Darwin PLUS, EU BEST, Friends of South Georgia Island, South Georgia Heritage Trust, Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and WWF. For the first time ever we can now follow South Georgia whales in real time as they journey across their summer feeding grounds, to find out where they go and how they use this habitat.

Southern Right Whales

One southern right whale (Disco) was tagged on the 9th March 2024 near Ocean Harbour as part of the BAS DARWIN PLUS Hungry Humpbacks project, and the following map is tracking their movements in near real time (updated three times a day). Two southern right whales (Annenkov and Braveheart) were tagged on the 28th January 2020 from RV Braveheart, and the following map shows their movements.

Click on a track to find out how far the whale has gone from the initial tagging location.

Our work helps us to find out where southern right whales go in the austral autumn, and to track them on their return migration to wintering grounds when they have finished feeding. This work helps us to better understand whale feeding rates and dive patterns, and where whales feed in relation to areas of high primary productivity such as the Antarctic polar front, krill fishery hotspots, and the Marine Protected Areas of the region.

Humpback Whales

Two humpback whales were tagged on the 19th and 21st January 2019, and the following map shows their movements, including one full migration to Brazil.

Click on a track to find out how far the whale has gone from the initial tagging location.

This work is supported by Darwin PLUS, EU BEST, Friends of South Georgia Island, South Georgia Heritage Trust, Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and WWF.

The objective of this project is to follow South Georgia whales in real time as they journey across their summer feeding grounds, to find out where they go and how they use this habitat.

1. Whale-ship strikes reduced if 2.6% of ocean made safer

   A new study examines the risk to whales from ship strikes – the leading cause of death worldwide for the species.

   Read more of: Whale-ship strikes reduced if 2.6% of ocean made safer

   

2. Acoustic research sheds new light on whale sounds 

   Scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), and international collaborators have this week published the first detailed research on the sounds made by southern right […]

   Read more of: Acoustic research sheds new light on whale sounds 

   

3. Blue whales return to South Georgia after near extinction

   An international research team led by UK scientists has revealed the return of critically endangered Antarctic blue whales to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, 50 years after whaling all […]

   Read more of: Blue whales return to South Georgia after near extinction

   

4. Monitoring whales from space

   Scientists have found that studying high-resolution images of whales from space is a feasible way to estimate their populations. A team, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), compared satellite images […]

   Read more of: Monitoring whales from space

   

5. Migratory secrets of recovering whale species

   Scientists have discovered where a whale species that feeds around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia breeds during the winter months. This understanding of where the animals migrate from will […]

   Read more of: Migratory secrets of recovering whale species

   

6. Return of the whales to South Georgia

   A team led by British Antarctic Survey has just returned from the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, as the last of three expeditions to investigate the recovery of whales a […]

   Read more of: Return of the whales to South Georgia

   

1. King Edward Point Research Station

   King Edward Point Research Station on South Georgia is a centre for marine and fisheries research.

   Read more of: King Edward Point Research Station