Post by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Is this the first Humpack whale sighting on the Great Barrier Reef?🐋🤔 Our Eye on the Reef expert Chris Jones, aka "Fluffy" breaks this sighting down for us. Spotted near the Palm Islands, the whale sighting was made by Donzii aboard Sealink North Queensland. But without a clear photo or further supporting information, it raises the question: was it really a Humpback? Imagery like photos and video can make a big difference in identifying whale species correctly. In 2016, Mission Beach Island Reef Adventures logged what looked like a Humpback whale through the Eye on the Reef sightings network. But when experts reviewed the sighting, it turned out to be something far rarer - an Omura’s whale. 🐋 It became the first confirmed record of this species in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (though scientists already thought it might pass through the region). Omura’s whales are rarely seen and not well understood, so this sighting added valuable evidence about where they occur. It’s a practical example of citizen science in action - and a reminder that every sighting shared to Eye on the Reef can help improve our understanding of the Reef. Have you submitted a sighting yet?🤳 #EyeontheReef #lovetheReef 📸 Omura's whale photo: Salvatore Cerchio et al. / Royal Society Open Science (CC BY 4.0)

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