A new study highlights the growing threat of climate change to humpback whale migration. Researchers tracking 42 whales found that these animals rely on long-term memory and environmental cues, like sea temperature, to time their annual 10,000-kilometer migration to Antarctic feeding grounds.
Ocean warming is causing whales to adjust their migration to coincide with peak krill blooms.
Scientists worry the pace of climate change may be too fast for whales to adapt.
Changing migration patterns increase the risk of entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with boats.
Researchers advocate for better protection of whale migration corridors.
The study, covering 2009-2016, revealed that even then, climate change impacted whale migration. Scientists emphasize the urgent need to monitor how whales are coping with accelerated warming, as their ability to adapt has limits.