Photoidentification of Humpback whales in Antarctic Peninsula waters

Photographs of fluke's ventral surface of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) were taken in Bransfield and Gerlache Strait, near Antarctic Peninsula, during four summers seasons (1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97 and 1997/98). These photos permit identification of each individual with the objective of knowing local distribution and movements and long-distance movements between winter and summer grounds. Up to the present, we have identified approximately 150 humpbacks whales in this manner, knowing local movements within the same season of a few and without re-capture between summers seasons.