Megaptera Borealis Expedition 2018

In February 2018 Daniel Palacios of Oregon State Univeristy and Kristin Rasmussen of Panacetacea were in the Gulf Of Chiriquí, Panamá, surveying for humpback whales. Whales seen off Central America between December and April are migrating from feeding areas off California, Oregon and Washington. This population is still considered endangered  (thought to number only ~400 animals). The objectives of this study were to document occurrence of humpback whales, presence of calves and singers, and to collecting photo-IDs and biopsy samples. This population was last surveyed in the Gulf of Chiriqui in 2003, 15 years ago. We kept a daily log of our discoveries and highlights of each day. Enjoy!