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 Hum

pback 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 [email protected]). 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!

06/03/2026

One whale. Decades of sightings. Generations of family.

This is Big Mama’s story!

Known on Happywhale as CRC-15122, Big Mama has been documented in more than 2,000 encounters and has helped reveal a family tree spanning multiple generations of humpback whales in the Salish Sea.

What you’re seeing here represents years of photographs, contributions from researchers and citizen scientists, and the power of connecting sightings across time. Without long-term photo identification efforts, stories like this would remain hidden beneath the surface.

Every whale in this animation represents data, dedication, and a growing understanding of the lives of whales.

Explore Big Mama’s StoryMap through our Linktree.
If you believe in the power of citizen science and whale conservation, please consider supporting Happywhale. Your support helps us maintain the tools, technology, and human expertise that make discoveries like this possible.

Visit Big Mama’s Happywhale page here:
https://happywhale.com/individual/2120

Click our Linktree for more ways to support Happywhale!

06/01/2026

What an exciting 10AM trip on May 31, 2026 with the co-founder of Happywhale, Dr. Ted Cheeseman! Passengers and crew on board enjoyed listening to Ted Cheeseman talk all things humpback whales - from population status and behaviors, to new studies and climate change, there was something new for everyone to learn! We observed at least 30 different humpback whales, three of which we were able to get IDs of - Ziggurat, CRC-11603, and CRC-10879. There was also an exciting bird sighting on board: a South Polar Skua! This was a “lifer” for many on board. We were also joined on board by Krista Hanni, co-owner of Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris, who helps organize these trips. Join us on the next Cheeseman trip on June 28, 2026!

05/31/2026

Meet Big Mama!

Known on Happywhale as CRC-15122, Big Mama is one of the most remarkable humpback whales ever documented. With more than 2,000 encounters recorded, her story spans decades and generations, helping researchers better understand humpback whale recovery, family lineages, and the enduring connections between whales and the places they call home.

Through the power of photo identification and thousands of contributed sightings, Big Mama’s family tree now includes multiple generations of descendants, making her one of the best-documented humpback whales in the world.

Want to explore her incredible journey? Check out Big Mama’s StoryMap in our Linktree.

Every whale story on Happywhale is made possible by a global community of contributors, researchers, and supporters. If you’d like to help us continue tracking whales and supporting conservation science, please consider visiting our Linktree to learn more about ways to support our work.

Follow Big Mama here:
https://happywhale.com/individual/2120

05/27/2026

A new study has revealed the first evidence of bidirectional exchange between humpback whale populations in the South Pacific and South Atlantic, helping scientists better understand how whales connect across vast ocean regions.

Discoveries like this are only possible because of decades of photo-identification research and the contributions of thousands of citizen scientists, photographers, whale watch operators, researchers around the world, and the Happywhale platform!

Every whale photo has the potential to contribute to science. Every sighting helps build a larger picture of whale lives, migrations, and population connections.

Thank you to everyone who uploads photos, shares sightings, and supports Happywhale. Together, you’re helping make discoveries that would not be possible otherwise.

Check out Happywhale in the news:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/20/humpback-whale-journey-15000km-brazil-hervey-bay-australia

Castro Ayala, C., Stack, S. H., Marcondes, M. C. C., Cardoso, J., Cheeseman, T., Currie, J. J., Francisco, A., Olio, M., Righi, B., Stuckenbrock, S., & Sousa-Lima, R. S. (2026). First evidence of bidirectional exchange between distant humpback whale breeding populations in eastern Australia and Brazil. Royal Society Open Science, 13(5), 260251. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.260251

05/12/2026

Whale recovery doesn’t happen by chance, it happens when people, policies, and science work together. South Georgia shows how resilient whales can be, but also how much continued support they need to thrive in a changing ocean.

From protecting feeding grounds to preventing ship strikes and entanglement, from climate action to citizen science, every contribution matters.

Your photos, your awareness, and your advocacy help shape the future these whales swim toward. Let’s make it a safer one.

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 #

05/08/2026

A look back at the season in South Georgia

From just one year to the next, the growth is clear. More encounters, more individuals, and more species—all made possible by a global community of observers sharing their sightings.

Each photo contributes to something bigger: tracking migration, understanding populations, and uncovering connections across the Southern Ocean.

This is what happens when people come together for science

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this season.

Your voice, your photos, and your advocacy matter.

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 #

04/24/2026

Art meets science in Salute of the Whales!

The Museum of Art Pudong is now displaying an immersive exhibition that brings two real humpback whales, Aria and Batman, to life at full scale, telling their stories through sculpture, sound, and light.

The installation weaves together migration, survival, and the complex relationship between whales and humans. From ocean soundscapes to ghost net sculptures, the experience invites us to see whales not just as species, but as individuals with stories that span oceans and generations.

We’re honored to see Happywhale’s work reflected in this global collaboration that shares how science, storytelling, and art can come together to deepen connection and inspire protection.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.museumofartpd.org.cn/en/exhibitiondetail?id=184

Images on slide 2 are sourced from the museum website

03/12/2026

Whales are returning to South Georgia, but recovery doesn’t mean they’re safe. Even as populations rebuild, they continue to face threats across their entire migratory range, from ship strikes and entanglement to noise pollution and climate-driven changes in prey.

These pressures affect how whales feed, travel, reproduce, and communicate. For species still far below pre-whaling levels, every setback matters.

Understanding these risks helps scientists target conservation efforts and underscores why ongoing monitoring, responsible vessel operations, and citizen science photo-ID are so essential.

Your voice, your photos, and your advocacy matter. 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 #

02/16/2026

World Whale Day began as a celebration of humpback whales and has grown into a global reminder of why whales matter. Their recovery stories are powerful, but they are still unfolding and depend on continued research, awareness, and protection.

At Happywhale, that work is powered by community. Every photo submitted helps identify individual whales, track migrations, monitor recovery, and understand how populations respond to a changing ocean.

On World Whale Day, we celebrate whales and the people who help protect them. Thank you for being part of the story and happy 45th World Whale Day!!

For more information visit: https://pacificwhale.org/world-whale-day-2026/

02/12/2026

Photo-ID is one of the most powerful tools in modern whale science and one of the simplest. By photographing the unique markings on a whale’s fluke or dorsal fin, researchers can track individuals across years, oceans, and entire lifetimes. These images reveal migrations, document recovery, and connect populations.

The best part: anyone with a camera can contribute. Naturalists, travelers, and citizen scientists now provide many of the sightings that help researchers understand South Georgia’s whales. Every photo strengthens our knowledge, and our ability to protect these animals.

Swipe to learn why photo-ID is the foundation of global whale conservation.

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 #

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/11/2/231462/92692/Bellwethers-of-change-population-modelling-of

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