When can we see humpback whales in Nosy Be?

Les baleines à bosse arrivent progressivement au début de l’hiver austral (juillet), et restent aux alentours de Nosy Be jusqu’au mois de Novembre. La haute saison se situe entre les mois d’Août et Octobre.

Why do we call them humpback whale?

On les appelle ainsi car c’est la seule espèce de baleine qui possède une petite bosse à la base de l’aileron dorsal.Certains disent également que c’est la forme particulièrement arrondie de leur dos au moment où elles sondent (plongée après plusieurs respirations) qui lui vaut son nom.

Are humpback whales the biggest whales in the world?

Mesurant environ 15 mètres pour 40 tonnes, ce sont déjà de beaux bébés…Mais ce n’est pas les plus grosses des baleines : En effet, les baleines bleues peuvent mesurer jusqu’à 35 mètres et peser 170 tonnes ! Les rorquals communs sont également plus grand que les baleines à bosse, mesurant jusqu’à 27 mètres et pouvant peser 70 tonnes.

What do humpback whales feed on in Nosy Be?

Les baleines à bosse se nourrissent quasi exclusivement de krill (petites crevettes), qui se trouvent uniquement dans les pôles. Ainsi, le cycle d’une année pour une baleine à bosse se compose de la manière suivante :4 mois dans les pôles à se nourrir 4 mois de migrations (2 mois dans un sens, et deux mois dans l’autre sens)4 mois dans les zones de reproductionLes baleines à bosse ne mangent donc que 4 mois par an, et ce n’est pas à Nosy Be!

Humpback whales à Nosy Be

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a tireless traveler, which alternates between the fishy waters of the poles, where they feed mainly on krill (small shrimps), and the tropical waters where they come to breed and give birth.

Taking advantage of a calm and shallow sea, as well as sunny weather, the mother / calf couples bask in the bay which separates Madagascar from Nosy Be, while the groups of males are found at the limit of the continental shelf for fights, jumps and strikes of caudal or pectoral fins. The humpback whale is the most curious, playful and expressive of cetaceans, which makes it the star of Whale watching activity in the world!

Humpback whales gradually arrive at the start of the southern winter (July), and remain around Nosy Be until November.

The high season is between August and October.

They are so called because it is the only species of whale that has a small hump at the base of the dorsal fin.

Some also say that it is the particularly rounded shape of their back when they probe (diving after several breaths) which gives it its name.

In tropical areas, breeding places, males sing in order to seduce females. Mastered songs, repeated melodies shared by all the whales in the same area. A real summer hit, which we can hear thanks to the hydrophones available on our boats!

Measuring approximately 15 meters for 40 tonnes, they are already beautiful babies…

But they are not the largest of the whales: Indeed, blue whales can measure up to 35 meters and weigh 170 tonnes!

Fin whales are also larger than humpback whales, measuring up to 27 meters and weighing 70 tonnes.

Humpback whales feed almost exclusively on krill (small shrimp), which are found only in the poles. Thus, the one-year cycle for a humpback whale consists of the following way: