See it: Magnificent humpback whale breaches off coast of New York City, delighting whale watchers
In July, Gotham Whale officially recorded its 500th whale off the waters of New York City.
Watch: Humpback whale delights visitors off coast of New York City
Whale watches on a cruise off the coast of New York City were thrilled to catch a humpback whale breaching on camera. At least 500 individual whales have been reported in waters around New York City since 2012, according to Gotham Whale.
NEW YORK– A majestic humpback whale was caught on camera breaching the waters off New York City in late July, around the same time the 500th individual humpback whale was documented in the area.
Video from Chris St. Lawrence captured the video while aboard an American Princess whale watching cruise, which partners with the nonprofit Gotham Whale.
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A humpback whale leaps out of the water. (Chris St Lawrence via Storyful / FOX Weather)
Since 2012, Gotham Whale has made an effort to document all the individual humpback whales seen around New York waters by their distinct tale patterns.
They did this by partnering with local tour boats and the public to get photos of these fantastic beasts like in the video above.
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In July, the nonprofit officially recorded its 500th whale.
In the video by St. Lawrence, whale watchers "ooh" and "ahh" at the sight of the whale coming up for air and splashing its tail.
Gotham Whale said before 2018, 10 to 30 whales would be documented a year. Since then, the nonprofit records 80 to 100 whales a year around New York City.
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A humpback whale sticks its fins out of the water. (Chris St Lawrence via Storyful / FOX Weather)
"Over the past 15 years, we have learned so much by tracking New York City's humpback whales, watching many return here year after year—even following some from juveniles to adulthood," said Dr. Danielle Brown, Gotham Whale’s director of research and board president. "500 humpback whales in our catalog is exciting, but we must also remember that with more whales comes more overlap with human activities."
In one clip from the video, the whale leaps into the air with the New York City skyline in the background, creating an incredible visual proving how close these animals can get to shore.
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A humpback whale breaches with the New York City skyline in the background. (Chris St Lawrence via Storyful / FOX Weather)
Warming ocean temperatures are prompting a change in the distribution of different groups of marine animals like fish, sharks, whales and more.
This means that more humpback whales are spending time in the New York/New Jersey region, nearing busy ports at being at increased risk for vessel strikes.
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A humpback whale scoops fish up into its mouth. (Chris St Lawrence via Storyful / FOX Weather)
Entanglement in fishing and marine gear and boat strikes remain one of the leading causes of death of large whales like humpbacks across the world.
"My father founded Gotham Whale believing that people protect what they understand," said Paul "PJ" Sieswerda, Gotham Whale board vice president. "Every whale documented is another giant step toward understanding and protecting the remarkable wildlife living just beyond New York City’s skyline."
Gotham Whale is based on Staten Island, and studies, advocates for and educates about the whales and marine mammals around the New York City area.