Which whale is the most photographed in the marine park, and which one has been its longest visitor?
Siam, Gaspar, Ti-Croche. Their names have become familiar to us because we repeat them so often. But who are the most photographed whales in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park? After analyzing thousands of photos, the team from the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals’ big whale monitoring program is now ready to share some of its findings with us!
The whale with the longest documented life history
1. Siam
This male humpback whale was photographed for the first time in 1981, and since then, he has been seen 27 years out of 43 (as of 2024)!
2. Caïman
Thirty-five years of the fin whale Caïman’s life have been documented, from 1986 to 2021. At the time this article was written, in 2017, he stood equal to fin whale Bp078, who we know since 1986, but who is not identified as frequently as Caïman!
This female blue whale has been known since 1988 and has been sighted irregularly since then. Her link to the estuary has therefore been documented for 30 years!
The most commonly seen whales in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park
1. Caïman
From 1986 to 2021, Caïman was absent only in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2019. Seen 31 years out of 35, this female fin whale wins the competition hands down!
2. U2
U2, a male fin whale, was seen every year between 1984 and 2011, except in 1986. But since 2011, he has not been seen again. Where has he gone? The mystery remains.
3. Orion
The male fin whale (yes, the top three are all fin whales!) Orion was first spotted in 1988 and again in 2017. He has been observed 23 times in 29 years. Not bad!
The whales most photographed by GREMM and its collaborators in the estuary
1. Bp913
With 184 captures (photos), as of 2017, the fin whale Bp913 wins the prize for the most photographed fin whale. It has also been seen 26 times in 29 years, from 1997 to 2025. Will we see it this summer?
2. Grand Galop
The fin whale Grand Galop was a star from 1985 to 2000. During those years, he visited the marine park and was photographed more than 146 times.
3. U2
Yes, U2 appears again in the rankings. From 1985 to 2011, the year of its last sighting, it was photographed 145 times.
Captain Hook was a regular visitor to the estuary, appearing every year from 1994 to 2013 (except in 2005) and being photographed 144 times. This female fin whale was among the first fin whales to arrive in the spring, and her stays in the estuary could last several months. Unfortunately, Captain Hook is presumed dead, as during her last encounter with the research team, she was severely entangled in fishing gear and emaciated.
5. Tic Tac Toe
The female humpback whale Tic Tac Toe has been visiting the estuary since 1999, when she was just one year old. Since her first visit 19 years ago (as of 2017), she has been photographed 143 times over 13 summers.
Marie-Ève Muller
Marie-Ève Muller is responsible for GREMM's communications and spokeperson for the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergencies Response Network (QMMERN). As Editor-in-Chief for Whales Online, she devours research and has an insatiable thirst for the stories of scientists and observers. Drawing from her background in literature and journalism, Marie-Ève strives to put the fragile reality of cetaceans into words and images.
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