By Robbert van der Linde
Nov 24, 2023 at 9:44 PM Update: 2 hours ago
The humpback whale known as ‘Dutchy’ has recently been spotted again off the coast of Norway. Sixteen years ago the whale appeared off the Dutch coast, but the animal has been missing since then.
Dutchy was spotted last January in the company of other humpback whales near the Norwegian city of Tromsø. The animal had been spotted there several times in the past.
Whale experts have now determined on the basis of photos that it is the same whale that was seen in 2007 off the coasts of the Netherlands, Ireland and Norway, among others. Dutchy was then spotted in our country near the Marsdiep and off the coast of IJmuiden.
The whale was recognized by, among other things, the shape of the dorsal fin and the tail blade, and the typical color patterns on the body. Dutchy is approximately 14 meters long. It is not yet clear whether Dutchy is a male or a female. According to SOS Dolfijn, the humpback whale appears to be in good health and is actively hunting for food with others of its kind.
Dutchy may also return to the Dutch coast. “We now know that humpback whales return to the same place. So if there is enough food to be found in the North Sea, we may also see Dutchy again in the Netherlands,” says Annemarie van den Berg on behalf of SOS Dolfijn.
Humpback whales can live about fifty years. They have been observed more and more often in the North Sea since the beginning of this century. It is still a mystery how that happens. “We actually have no idea what they do here and what they eat here,” says Van den Berg. “But it is very special when they come by.”
Dutchy was recognized by the tail fin, among other things. Photo: SOS Dolfijn/HappywhaleOct 24, 2023 at 7:03 PM
Young humpback whale spotted in the Wadden Sea
Image: SOS Dolphin
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Animal Humpback Whale Abroad
2023-11-24 20:44:25
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