H915

Its tail fin, which seems to emerge from the artistic universe of a talented painter, reminds us that all art is an imitation of nature. But fortunately, this painting against a whale background reveals only one plausible interpretation: H915 is back in the estuary! Accompanied by Tic Tac Toe, the St. Lawrence’s emblematic humpback whale, H915 was spotted in Bon-Désir Bay on August 8, offering marine mammal enthusiasts the spectacle of its dives. However, a few interesting patterns have been observed: H915 didn’t return to the Estuary between 2009 and 2020, an absence of 10 years!

Among whales, fidelity corresponds to the attachment they show towards a feeding site. To assess this level of fidelity, scientists use specific criteria that vary according to species, such as the rate of return between years and the rate of seasonal frequentation. Traumatic events such as entanglement, ship strikes or food shortages can, however, undermine fidelity and lead to inconsistency. Could one of these factors have contributed to H915’s mysterious absence? Possibly! It’s also possible that this star cetacean subtly explored the estuary during this period, slipping under the radar of seasoned observers!