We assumed humpback whales had to reach warm tropical waters before giving birth, but a 2025 UNSW-led study found newborn calves as far south as Tasmania — around 1,500 kilometres beyond the accepted
A 2025 study led by the University of New South Wales has identified newborn humpback whale calves much further south than previously thought. This finding challenges the long-held scientific consensus that humpbacks exclusively give birth in warm tropical waters.
Why it matters
This discovery forces a re-evaluation of whale migration patterns and habitat protection strategies in the face of changing environmental conditions.
For decades, the clean version of humpback whale migration was easy to describe.
The article reports on scientific findings without political or ideological framing.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in