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Facts About Humpback Whales

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The planet’s oceans are teeming with fascinating creatures but few capture our imaginations as whales have. These gentle giants travel great distances each year and can be found in all of the world’s oceans. 

The sight of a massive whale breaching the surface is breathtaking whether you’re seeing it on video or firsthand. One species of whale known for this breaching behavior is the humpback whale. The species’ history can teach us a lot about marine ecosystems and the urgent need to conserve them.

Humpback Whales, Charismatic Cetaceans

Even though they aren’t the largest whale species, humpback whales are not short on charisma. They display many behaviors that have puzzled scientists and dazzled animal lovers. Some questions about humpback whales have yet to be answered. This piece will cover some of the most interesting facts about humpback whales.

The Singers of the Sea

Have you ever heard whale songs? Those haunting yet strangely soothing calls that most of us associate with all whale species are usually recordings of humpback whales. The humpbacks’ songs have become the signature sounds of all whales, even though the original singers might be the most melodic species of all.

This singing behavior is enchanting and mysterious because experts still can’t agree on the reasons why humpback whales sing. One theory suggests that the songs are used for echolocation and feeding while another states they could be used to communicate with other members of the species over long distances. 

Feeding With Flair

Humpback whales are extremely intelligent creatures that have complex but efficient methods of feeding. They thrive on a diet of plankton, krill, shrimp, and small fish. Like all baleen whales, humpbacks don’t have teeth. Instead, they have fibers that act as sieves to allow them to filter feed. But one of the most interesting facts about humpback whales is that they take this filter-feeding technique to the next level. 

You might have thought humans were the only ones to fish with nets, but you’d be wrong. Humpbacks have been filmed using “bubble nets” to catch prey. They blow up rings of bubbles from below a school of fish or krill. The bubbles cause the prey to crowd together, making it much easier for the whale to rise from below and swallow a whole mouthful of food in a single gulp. Using such advanced techniques is proof that humpback whales are sentient, thoughtful creatures that deserve our respect and protection.

Humpback whales usually feed during the spring and summer, taking advantage of conditions to load up on nutrients. The winter months are spent migrating to breeding grounds where the whales compete for mates and do not eat at all until spring returns. 

Stars on the Surface

For decades, whale watchers have been a starstruck audience for humpback whales. The species is known to become accustomed to the presence of boats, making them an easier target for sightseeing tours to track down. Humpbacks are also famous for their energetic surface behavior, performing breaches, fin slaps, and raising their tail fluke frequently. 

The dynamic behavior makes humpback whales great photography subjects. Combined with their docile, trusting nature, it’s no surprise that humpback whales are a favorite among whale watchers.

Gentle Giants

How big are humpback whales? As far as whale species’ go, humpback whales aren’t exactly lightweights. Full-grown adults can grow between 15 meters and 18 meters in length, and weigh up to 40 tons! That’s around the size of a bus which should give you an idea of the scale of the creature. 

Despite their large size, humpback whales aren’t considered a threat to humans. They have peaceful personalities, and cases of a whale attacking or even unintentionally injuring a person are extremely rare. Some freak cases involved:

  • A woman who died when a humpback breached the surface and crashed onto the boat she was on
  • A humpback whale accidentally swallowed a diver whole while feeding, only to immediately spit him back out

It’s safe to say that humans pose a much greater danger to humpback whales than the other way around.

Where Are Humpback Whales Found?

Do you want to witness the beauty of humpback whales with your own eyes? Thankfully, it’s still possible today despite the extinction faced by the species in the mid-20th century. In regions where these whales come close to shore, an entire whale-watching industry has sprung up. 

Humpback whales are powerful swimmers, able to cover thousands of miles in a few weeks when they are migrating for food or mating. A single humpback whale can be spotted in locations as far-flung as Hawaii and Alaska in the same year. The humpback whales’ habitat spans the globe, covering the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Southern Ocean, and the Arabian Sea.

Though the humpback whale can be found worldwide, its scientific name is Megaptera novaeangliae, named after New England, where specimens of these whales were studied for the first time in the 18th century. 

How long do humpback whales live? Humpback whales’ extended migration patterns are partly made possible by their extraordinary longevity. They live for 80 to 90 years, making them one of longest living whale species. 

How You Can See Humpback Whales

Do you want to witness the beauty of humpback whales with your own eyes? Thankfully, it’s still possible today despite the extinction faced by the species in the mid-20th century. In regions where these whales come close to shore, an entire whale-watching industry has sprung up (an industry that, unfortunately, often harms the habitat of these whales). Nicaragua and El Salvador in Central America, the New England coast, or the Hawaiian islands are examples of destinations you could visit to catch a glimpse of humpback whales in their natural habitat.

Humpback Whale Conservation: A Success Story

We should consider ourselves lucky that we can still see humpback whales in the wild. At the height of the whaling industry, whalers were slaughtering and harvesting these magnificent animals by the thousands. Humpback whales were prized by whalers for their meat, blubber, and oil. Commercial exploitation nearly wiped out these beautiful animals from the face of the planet. 

By the 1960s, humpback whales were in dire straits. Studies estimate that the total number of humpback whales around the globe could not have been more than 5,000 during those dark times. Global conservation efforts and the International Whaling Commission outlawed the commercial hunting of humpbacks in 1966 to stave off their extinction. 

Since then, the humpback whale population has experienced a slow and steady recovery. The number of whales in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans has risen with each decade, though the Arabian Sea population remains isolated. While certain outlying populations may still be facing existential threats, the species as a whole is much healthier. 

In 2018, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared the humpback whale’s conservation status as “Least Concern” in light of their population’s recovery. It is estimated that there are almost 80,000 whales today.

Help Protect Humpback Whales 

It’s ironic how these majestic and massive creatures need help from tiny humans, but we must take our responsibility seriously. If you spot someone hunting, planning to hunt, or harming humpback whales, report it to your local conservation authorities. In the US, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a hotline for concerned citizens. In El Salvador, people can report threats to humpback whales via WhatsApp at +503 7859 1474 and via phone call at +503 7856 0266.

Also, never support unethical whale-watching organizations that cause distress to whales by approaching them too rapidly and closely. If you have your own vessel, always be on the lookout and be prepared to change course while sailing in humpback whales’ habitat.

Together, we can protect these lovely giants of the sea so that marine ecosystems can flourish and future generations can also appreciate their greatness.

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When El Salvador’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) contacted us in 2022 and asked for help in caring for captive spider monkeys, we knew right away we would call on the experienced animal keepers at Zoo Boise.

El Salvador has a big problem with animal smuggling. Poachers will target any exotic animal to sell as a pet to the overseas illegal trade in endangered species. Often, they will kill the animals for fur or other parts which can fetch a high price. In recent years, the Salvadoran government has renewed its efforts to stamp out this trade and give rescued animals a better chance of survival and release back to the wild. Hence, their willingness to work with NGOs like Paso Pacífico.

When MARN contacted us, we reached out to our friends at Zoo Boise, which helps fund some of our work with spider monkeys and other species. A Zoo Boise delegation soon arrived in El Salvador to learn how they could help. After an introduction to the country, they met with some of the forest rangers trained by Paso Pacífico with the aid of Zoo Boise funding, and with about 20 animal care professionals and conservationists from throughout the country. The Zoo Boise team led training sessions where zoo professional learned techniques to calm injured animals and administer medical care. Keepers from animal rescues around the country also learned more about the housing, dietary and social needs of the spider monkeys thanks to the Zoo Boise experts.

The Zoo’s veterinarian is now working with Salvadoran vets to design better programs for medical testing. This will help determine which animals might be successfully rehabilitated in the wild.

Teamwork and collaboration are essential to successful conservation. Let us know if you have any special skills or knowledge which you would like to put to good use!

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On a recent trip to El Salvador with Paso Pacífico, I listened to a local farmer proudly naming the jaguar as a local species.

I didn’t like to contradict him, but the outside world says that nobody has seen one in decades, and jaguars are now officially extinct in El Salvador. Still, there are many cases where locally extinct species reappear after decades of being absent.

Though nature is resilient, at Paso Pacífico, we believe in taking action before that time comes so that we never have to say “they are all gone.”

The jaguar is an apex predator, threatened only by humans. In the early 1800s, the jaguar population ranged from the southern US to the tip of South America, and numbered around 400,000. Now, isolated pockets of jaguars total around 15,000 in Mexico, Central America, Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. We have managed to hunt them and destroy their habitat to the extent that they are in danger everywhere they live. Even though poaching jaguars is forbidden in most countries, the big cats are still killed by poachers. 

The loss of habitat threatens jaguars most. Accustomed to roaming over huge areas to look for suitable mates, jaguars now can often interbreed only with their family members, weakening the gene pool and making the cats less healthy both physically and mentally. This leads to more dangerous behavior and more clashes with humans. There’s a good reason we don’t marry our close relatives!

In areas where human habitat has encroached on jaguar habitat, farmers often try to shoot big cats to protect their livestock. Jaguars will usually go after big prey, but as food sources shrink, they are forced to widen their diet. That invites new dangers, such as eating a dog with distemper and spreading the disease through the forest, or eating a rat which has been poisoned, or getting hit by cars on newly-built roads.

Paso Pacífico is trying to create wildlife corridors which are basically strips of land between jaguar habitats where development is banned or restricted so that the areas can remain suitable habitat for jaguars and their prey. This also prevents rodent populations from exploding and protects the biodiversity. We have also helped establish programs to encourage farmers to corral their animals and compensate them for livestock lost to jaguars. Our Junior Ranger programs have educated children about the value of preserving their environment and trained them to record signs of jaguars and operate camera traps.

These links will tell you more about our projects to protect jaguars. Interested? Please donate and get involved.

Jaguars
Securing Core Habitats

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The world is full of wonderful animals you’ve likely never heard of. The yawaum’di, gato colorado, gato moro, león breñero, leoncillo, tigrillo. The eyra, gato-mourisco, gato-preto, gato-vermelho and maracajá-preto.

Actually, all those are the same thing — known to English speakers as the jaguarundi. Read on to learn more, such as what it has in common with ocelots, weasels, and tayras.

Baby jaguarundi. Photo by José Gabriel Martínez-Fonseca.

Jaguarundi kitten photo by MARN

Distinctive Characteristics of the Jaguarundi

The jaguarundi is a medium-sized cat of slender build and uniform coloration that looks very different from other neotropical cats, which are usually spotted. This has been attributed to variations in its genetics: the jaguarundi has 38 chromosomes, unlike the 36 in other small New World cats. In fact, a jaguarundi’s chromosomes resemble those of Old World cats such as the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).

3 camera trap stills in a sequential order in a filmstrip fram.

Footage by Paso Pacífico

Uniform Coat Colors and Color Spectrum

A jaguarundi’s coat is uniformly colored, with at most a few faint markings on the face and the belly. Juveniles and some adults have cougar-like black and white marks on the lips and the snout. Jaguarundis can be two types of colors: either gray (blackish to brownish-gray fur) or red (fox-red to chestnut). These colors used to be considered different species! However, now, we know that these colors are on a spectrum. A litter of jaguarundi kittens can have several different colorings.

Donate Now – Help protect the jaguarundi and its habitat by making a donation today!

Physical Features and Size Comparison

A blackish-brown jaguarundi superficially resembles a tayra (Eira barbara), but it does not have the tayra’s clear, yellowish patch on the throat. The reddish jaguarundi is seen more often in dry, open areas.

Around twice as large as a domestic cat, a jaguarundi shares several features with mustelids like otters and weasels. It has an elongated body with relatively short legs, a small, narrow head, small, round ears, a short snout, and a long, muscular tail. Males are slightly larger than females.

Captive jaguarundi by Cloudtail the Snowleopard on Flickr. Used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED.

Habitat and Adaptability

It is hard to confirm numbers of these cats, as they are very elusive, but the last confirmed sighting in the USA was 1986 in Brownsville, Texas. That specimen was roadkill! More stable populations are southward. While loss of habitat has endangered them, these cats have proved more resilient than jaguars due to their adaptability. Jaguarundis can hunt both day and night, and live in many different types of habitat including deserts, deciduous forests, rain forests, mangrove swamps, scrubs and savannas. They swim well, can climb trees, and can evade detection more easily due to their small size.

Conservation Efforts and Challenges

In Central America, Paso Pacífico sometimes sees them in our camera traps. Our habitat protection programs benefit them too. We are trying to educate farmers about them, but the jaguarundi has a particular taste for chickens, so it’s a hard task.

Help protect jaguarundis today!

Jaguarundi seen in one of our camera traps

Take Action for the Jaguarundi

  1. Support Conservation: Consider donating to organizations like Paso Pacífico to help protect the habitat of jaguarundis and other wildlife.
  2. Spread Awareness: Share this post with your friends and family to raise awareness about the unique jaguarundi and the importance of conservation.
  3. Report Sightings: If you ever spot a jaguarundi or have information about their presence, report it to local wildlife authorities to contribute to their conservation efforts.

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Well, the superhero in the movies probably isn’t. But the black panther is a real animal. Some jaguars and leopards have a black pigmentation, but if you look closely, you can see spots and patterns which identify them as jaguars or leopards. Let’s delve into the fascinating reality behind these mysterious creatures.

Jaguars and Leopards: The Real Black Panthers

Contrary to common belief, the difference between a black panther and a jaguar is primarily based on their geographic location and genetic lineage. Black panthers are not a distinct species; instead, they are melanistic variants of jaguars and leopards. While their fur appears black, closer inspection reveals subtle spots and patterns that distinguish them as either jaguars or leopards. Leopards inhabit Africa, while jaguars reign in the Americas, both belonging to the Panthera family.

Black jaguar (cropped) by Cloudtail the Snowleopard on Flickr. Used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED.

Current Situation of the Black Panther

Jaguars, in particular, stand out as solitary creatures with exceptional hunting prowess. Earned the title of ‘apex predators,’ they proudly occupy the highest tier of the food chain. Despite their formidable status, these majestic beings face a formidable adversary: humans.

Human-Induced Challenges

Once thriving across vast regions, jaguars spanned from the southern United States to the tip of South America. However, human activities, including hunting and habitat destruction, have pushed them to the brink. Today, isolated populations cling to existence in remote corners of Central America, Mexico, Paraguay, and Brazil.

Check out how you can help the black panther

Guardians of the Wild: Paso Pacífico’s Endeavor

In the face of adversity, organizations like Paso Pacífico emerge as beacons of hope. Dedicated to helping panthers, its mission extends to safeguarding habitats and creating safe corridors for these magnificent creatures. The goal is clear: to ensure their survival by encouraging roaming and mating opportunities between isolated populations.

Join the Cause: Wakanda Forever!

As we reflect on the real-world challenges faced by these iconic creatures, the call to action resounds: “Wakanda Forever!” Will you join the cause and stand with organizations like Paso Pacífico in preserving the legacy of the black panther? The fate of these majestic beings hangs in the balance, and your support could make all the difference.

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The great false vampire bat (Vampyrum spectrum) is the largest bat in the New World, and the largest carnivorous bat in the world. It can look scary when its wings are extended. 

Kim Williams-Guillen and Merlin Tuttle hold a great false vampire bat

Notice the word “false”? Because this bat doesn’t suck blood, it’s not a true vampire bat. But it is carnivorous, which means that it can eat a LOT of insect pests and other small mammals, including rodents. This bat is good for ecosystems!

Sadly, it is also threatened — presumably due to loss of habitat.

But what is its habitat? Up until recently, we didn’t really know much about its way of life. This is where donors like you came in.

Biologists Marlon Chávez-Velázques and Carol Chambers with a great false vampire bat from the roost
Carol Chambers with a great false vampire bat from the roost

With the support of donors like you, in 2017, we assisted Dr. Carol Chambers and Nicaraguan graduate student José Gabriel Martínez-Fonseca, both from Northern Arizona University, as they worked through long nights to locate a vampire bat colony. First, they captured a female false vampire in their non-harming nets and placed a radio-collar on it. Then, they used radio telemetry to hone in on a hollow 40 feet up in a tree. They climbed up, and in there they found the bat, along with its whole family! This was the first roost of this species documented in Nicaragua.

The researchers returned in October 2023. Thanks to your support, Paso Pacífico team members assisted them once again. And guess what?! The bat family was still there! Here they are.

This discovery is the first of its its kind for this charismatic and threatened bat species. Friends and donors like you help make it possible for us to collaborate with scientists like Dr. Chambers and the newly graduated Dr. Jose Gabriel Martinez-Fonseca. Thank you!

One thing we have learned is that roosting trees can serve as permanent homes to vampire bats. To protect bats, we must save large, old trees.

The tree in this study stands within the agricultural and forest matrix of the Paso del Istmo Wildlife Corridor. Because you helped us to support farmers in protecting this tree and forests across the corridor, this bat and its family, are still happily living there six years later.

You — and other donors like you — are helping bats and returning our world to its natural beauty.

You love bats like we do. They are the only mammals that can fly in the sky. And I know it can seem like supporting niche conservation research can seem like it isn’t that big of a deal.  But it’s meaningful to Mother Nature. It’s meaningful to you and me. And it makes our shared world better, a little bit at a time

Thank you for caring about bats. Your generosity is an inspiration. And of course, if you’d like to help another bat today, you can click here.

P.S. If you’d like to learn more, see this 2017 video and this 2023 video from Dr. José Gabriel Martínez-Fonseca, who co-led the project. And to help our research continue, you can always make a gift today.

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Guest post by Paso Pacífico volunteer Ula Leavitt. In early 2023, Ula traveled to Playa Los Cóbanos, El Salvador on our behalf to participate in humpback whale research with Proyecto Megaptera. Their research is being carried out in partnership with The Society for Marine Mammalogy, Panacetacea, PRIMMA/UABCS, IDEA WILD, La Orca de Sayulita, Fundación Naturaleza El Salvador, Bar Ballena and Ministerio de Medio Ambiente.

I am a 16 year old Oak Grove School student. I have a huge passion for helping the environment and animals. Ever since I was a child I have known that protecting nature is what I want to do in life. I was happy to know that Paso Pacifico and partners were working hard to protect the whales in El Salvador. I was very interested in going there to help with research on endangered humpback whales.

Early January of this year I flew to El Salvador. I stayed in a small town right by the ocean. Every day in El Salvador, I would either be on the water first hand recording how many whales I saw or helping input the scientific data that we collected.

For example, we would photograph the fluke of the whale and then enter the images into a website called Happywhale to match our sightings to whales in their database. I learned a lot about not only whale information but how their population is dwindling due to climate change, ship collisions, commercial whaling and so much more.

It is so important to be educated on what threats are hurting this species’ population. Since I am from California, it is so interesting that the whales I saw in El Salvador could be seen here because of their migrations. Hopefully in the future I will be able to share what I learned with others.

Going to El Salvador was an amazing experience that I will never forget.

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Halloween is often associated with bats, which can lead to some pretty widespread misconceptions. For instance, have you ever heard someone say, “He’s blind as a bat!” If you have, you may want to keep reading…

Can you be blind as a bat?

Despite this popular phrase being recited across pop culture, bats aren’t actually blind. Though they have small eyes, their vision is just fine! 

What’s the longest living bat?

In 2006, a bat from Siberia broke records when it lived to be 41 years old. It’s seldom we hear of a living bat who was around when the Beatles were at their peak. Usually, bats don’t live longer than 20 years.

Baby bats are called pups… 

Did that grab your attention? Well, it’s true! Maybe these aren’t the pups that typically come to mind, but baby bats have that in common with newborn dogs.

Without bats, we wouldn’t have chocolate…

Seems like a stretch? It’s not! Bats pollinate over 500 different plant species, including cacao, which is used to make chocolate. Does this make you want to quit what you’re doing and become a full-time bat conservationist?

These Junior Rangers loved learning true facts about bats! Support our work today to help protect bats in Central America.

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Your support for our sea turtle program is vital for the future of the hawskbill sea turtle in the Pacific Ocean. Recent research by members of the Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative (ICAPO), including members of our team, collected genetic samples from critically endangered hawskbill sea turtles. Samples were collected from both juvenile turtles that were feeding in mangroves and on reefs, and adult female turtles that were nesting on beaches and in mangroves.

What they found was that the hawksbills that have a life history of feeding on reefs and nesting and feeding on open coasts are a distinct population. The research indicates that hawksbill sea turtles that you can help protect in southwestern Nicaragua are mostly part of a population that comes from nests on open beaches in southwestern Nicaragua and coastal areas like the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. These hawksbill turtles then live most of their lives foraging along the coast and in reefs, as opposed to other nearby populations that live out much of their lives feeding in mangroves.

Unfortunately, the hawksbills that are from this “open coast” subpopulation are more rare and threatened. Thus, your support from these beautiful, smallish turtles is vitally important to their future. Make a donation to support them now.

To read up on this research, click on this link.

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Thanks to donors like you, we continue to capture evidence of jaguars, which are keystone predators in western Central America. This past spring, we came across a jaguar and her cubs! While we couldn’t catch them on camera, we did get this video of a juvenile male jaguar:

Our efforts to protect forest habitat in partnership with communities and landowners is helping jaguars and other important animals recover from overhunting and deforestation. Click here to help keep jaguars in the wild and protect their native habitat!

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