Humpback Whale Photo ID Catalogue

Humpback Whale Flukes Identification

Thanks to all the wonderful Observers that help us to record humpback whales through our Observers App and our volunteer Observers that conduct dedicated research - we are learning more about the humpback whales in the North-east Atlantic, particularly the ones that visit Irish waters every year. These seasonal migratory cetaceans travel thousands of miles annually - with a known range extending from Iceland to West Africa. 

What we don't know is how these whales are using our waters and what threats do they face while they are here. Sightings of humpback whales have increased in recent years, but so too has observer effort. There have never been so many whale watching operators and recreational vessels looking for humpback whales every year the south, west and north coasts of Ireland. 

Now is a time in history that while humans are having the greatest negative impact on the marine environment and it is never more important then to monitor endangered species. You can help us to monitor the movements of humpback whales along our coasts by becoming a  citizen scientist and using the Observers App to report what encounters you have. 

Eco-tour operators can also contribute and go one step further even; they can adopt ORCAIreland "Best Practices" for whale and dolphin watching and sign up to our Wildlife A.W.A.R.E. Programme to become certified operators. 

View Guidelines
Humpback Whale Fluke ID's

Click on the images below to enlarge them, compare your own images and learn about when we first and last encountered the whale. Please send any sighting information including your images to us either through the Observers App's special Humpback whale Survey or directly through this website in "Make a Report". 
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