The discovery of the Great Barrier Reef's whale maternity ward
It started with a simple message: "This is the year to do something small for something huge." Now, 17 years later, the Whitsundays region has some of the best protection in the world for migrating humpback whales.
In 2009, humpback whale behavior began to attract attention in the Whitsundays region as tourism operators reported unusual sightings to the Reef Authority's Eye on the Reef network. Perplexed by the behavior, they sought scientific insight. This led to a major research effort involving citizen science, scientific surveys, and mapping, ultimately revealing a globally significant whale calving area in the Whitsundays.
The unusual behavior, known as fluking, where whales float upside down with tails raised, was later identified as a breeding behavior. This discovery solved a major mystery about the humpback whales' calving grounds on the Great Barrier Reef. The region was subsequently designated as a Whale Protection Area, with stricter rules for human interaction.
Tourism operators played a crucial role in achieving this Whale Heritage Area designation in 2024, partnering with management agencies and Traditional Owners. Visitors are encouraged to follow whale-watching rules, maintain safe distances, and report sightings via the Eye on the Reef network or by using the QWildlife app for sick, injured, stranded or dead whales.
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