Baby whale’s remarkable journey stuns researchers

A 1,200KM JOURNEY by a baby humpback whale through treacherous waters is at the centre of a discovery that has Irish and Dutch whale researchers leaping for joy.

The recently weaned young whale, first photographed by Dutch scientists in the Wadden Sea off the Netherlands on May 10 last, made its way from the North Sea, through the English Channel, and across the Celtic Sea before arriving off west Cork just over a month ago.

It was also photographed on September 28 by an Irish Whale & Dolphin Group researcher on a whale-watching trip with skipper Colin Barnes.