Cook
Islands Humpback Whale Survey 1998-2008
Principal
Investigator
Nan Hauser, CCRC
PhD candidate, Southern Cross University
Advisors
Peter Harrison,
Southern
Cross University, Lismore, Australia
Phil Clapham, NMFS, NOAA
Consultants
Tap Pryor, Board Member, Center for Cetacean Research
& Conservation
Darlene
Ketten, MD, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution
Background South Pacific Humpback Whales
Humpbacks are the most studied of the large whales,
yet much of their basic biology remains unknown. There
are few estimates of humpback population parameters,
and none whatsoever for the central South Pacific
until recent studies.
Humpbacks have been hunted extensively in the South
Pacific by commercial and pirate whalers, as recently
as 25 years ago. Indeed, disregarding an international
moratorium on high seas whaling, several nations are
clamoring to resume the hunt in these waters. Small
island nations of Oceania are especially vulnerable
to financial incentives offered by coutnries that
still hunt whales. The Cook Islands have led the way
in whale conservation by claiming a 2 million square
kilometer whale sanctuary in their exclusive economic
zone. Other countries have followed suit. Michael
Poole in French Polynesia and Claire Garrigue in New
Caledonia were the key players in creating whale sanctuaries
in their countries.
In
1998, Nan Hauser initiated a long-term humpback whale
survey in the Cook Islands, a chain of 15 islands
in the central tropical South Pacific which humpbacks
frequent in the austral winter, apparently to breed
and calve. The Cook Islands offer an unprecedented
opportunity to study the status of humpback whales
in the central South Pacific, information vital for
developing conservation measures for this endangered
species.
Because
of the determination of these scientists and the high
quality research of the South
Pacific Whale Research Consortium, these sanctuaries
were established. Many thanks to all
of them.
Objectives
Research and Conservation
CCRC strives to ensure the protection of endangered
South Pacific humpback whales by 1)
determining their population identity and status in
the Cook Islands, and by 2) raising
awareness of the whales and their pressing conservation
issues.
Finding
the facts
An exploratory survey was conducted in the waters
of the Cook Islands (central tropical South Pacific)
in September and October, 1998. Numerous humpback
whales were individually identified, cow-calf pairs
were sighted, and song was recorded extensively. Since
these humpback whales, including small calves, frequent
the Cook Islands throughout the austral winter months,
the Cook Islands emerge as breeding habitat for humpbacks
from one of the least-studied of southern hemisphere
management areas, Antarctic Area VI.
To
determine population identity and status, CCRC has
initiated a long term study which will compare genetic,
photo-identification, and song samples from Cook Islands
humpback whales with samples from whales of other
breeding and feeding sites in the South Pacific. Other
long-term goals include investigating the behavioral
ecology and toxicological loads of the Cook Islands
population. For more information, see Research
Methods.
Raising
awareness
Increasing public awareness of whales and their conservation
issues is essential for effecting informed decision-making
about whale management. CCRC informs and engages in
the Cook Islands, the United States and the Bahamas,
by: offering first-hand practical experiences for
interns and volunteers; supplementing school curricula
with educational enrichment programs; providing outreach
presentations at public gatherings; distributing scientific
findings to decision-makers; and, contributing footage
and photographs of whales, background information,
and interviews for television, radio and printed broadcast.
Moreover, CCRC will inform worldwide audiences through
television documentaries, magazine articles, scientific
journals, and several websites actively updated from
the field.
