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18 Maui Whale Watch Magazine • WhaleWatching OnMaui.com to court other whales? Leading researchers are weighing in and, armed with extensive studies, some interesting explanations are emerging. With all the information collected, the question of why humpbacks breach (a behavior frequently witnessed by whale watchers) is still not known. Breaching is the most amazing feat of physical strength in the animal kingdom. Humpbacks breach by thrusting themselves up out of the water and into the air, sometimes from head all the way to tail, which is called a "full breach." The power it takes for a 66,000 pound adult whale to breach is the equivalent of you trying to swim up and fly out of the ocean with 10 Hummers strapped to your back. Imagine trying to do that! The four most common theories to explain why humpbacks breach are: it's fun, to get rid of parasites, as a territorial display to keep threats away, and to communicate. The truth is, there's no definitive proof as to why they do this. The only thing that every researcher agrees upon is that witnessing a breach is a magnificent sight. Although the motivation behind breaching has been difficult to pinpoint, explanations for other behaviors are not so elusive. For example, in a recent study conducted by Dr. Jim Darling for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, it was reported that males often utilize one of two techniques to gain access to females. They either perform aggressive displays and fight other males in order to gain dominance, or they form coalitions with other males in order to cooperate in accessing females. Darling also confirmed that humpbacks have been known to give care to injured whales. In fact, in 1996, researchers on Maui witnessed a male with his pectoral fin wrapped around another whale that had died. The compassionate whale kept trying to push the other up to the surface, protecting him for hours on end. Another curious humpback behavior is called spyhopping. This is when the whale brings its head up and out of the water, essentially treading water, On a raft or kayak? Place your camera underwater to shoot whales! Underwater Camera Tip! HUMPBACK BEHAVIOR (continued on page 20) Photos by Marty Wolff