Humpback Whale 2016.  Photo courtesy Annelise Hagan

Humpback Whale Sightings

There are currently two confirmed sightings of humpback whales in Belize.  The first known sighting was at Turneffe Atoll in 2011 and the second was off the mainland coast between the Placencia Peninsula and Port Honduras Marine Reserve in 2016.
Useful reference for identifying whales:
1976.  STEPHEN LEATHERWOOD, DAVID K. CALDWELL, and HOWARD E. WINN.  Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Western North Atlantic: A Guide to Their IdentificationNOAA Technical Report NMFS CIRC-396.  SEATTLE, WA

2010- Turneffe Atoll

Mario Graniel runs sport fishing charters and is based out of Ambergris Caye.  In late 2010, Mario and his guests encountered the very first confirmed sighting of the humpback whale in Belize.

Link to Ambergris Today who published the story on the very first confirmed sighting or a humpback whale in Belize.

​​Feb 24- Apr 26, 2016
Placencia to Puerto Barrios

Between Feb 24 and Mar 3, 2016 residents of southern Belize were able to capture a rare sighting of the first humpback whale known to migrate along the shallow coastal areas off the mainland and offshore cayes.  Some witnesses reported only one whale and others reported two.  Here are the known sightings of humpback whales in southern Belize during this time period. The last sighting of the humpback whale(s) was on March 3 near Riversdale, just north of Placencia. Since the whale did not strand anywhere along the coast it is presumed to have made it's way safely back out to the Caribbean Sea.

LOVE FM News Report Feb 25, 2016
You Tube

Feb 24, 2016 - Big Creek

"A very rare sighting of 30+ft long humpback whale just a couple of miles offshore from Placencia. Possibly the whale became disorientated and lost, finding its way into the deep water channel leading to Big Creek port. It will be important to monitor its location and see if it is able to find its way back out to deep water and outside the reef. "  Courtesy Annelise Hagan, PhD
For more details and comments please visit Dr Hagan's FB page...

Feb 24, 2016 - Scipio Caye

"Okay, here it is. We saw this Humpback Whale inside the reef yesterday. Alfred Williams was guiding us and we spent an unbelievable 15 or 20 minutes with this gentle giant. A very rare sighting in these waters. Can't put into words how lucky we were."  Courtesy Ron Fell.
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Ron Fell captured video of a humpback when it was sighted inside the reef near Sciopio Caye.  The video can be seen in HD on Ron's Facebook page.

Mar 2, 2016 - Port Honduras Marine Reserve

Picture
"On days like yesterday mien it was like I got one of the fattest bonus ever. While out with good friends on the boat all of a sudden bam look deh says Captain Chukuru and there she was she showed up so close so cool!! A whale in the Port Honduras Marine Reserve." Courtesy Will Maheia

Mar 3, 2016 - Riversdale

"​Taken half mile outside of my beautiful village riversdale!! Love it guys. Had fun."  Courtesy Neri Monzon
Courtesy Hector Martinez

​Apr 6, 2016 - Puerto Barrios

Picture
Courtesy Miguel Soto
About a month after seeing the humpback whale migrate north from Puerto Barrios into Belize, a second humpback whale is shown slapping it's tail just outside Puerto Barrios, Guatemala.    Miguel Soto captured the whale sighting on video.  The underside of the tail is clearly visible so hopefully experts are able to identify this whale and it's home range.  

Is this the same whale observed a month ago or does this suggest the coastline of the western Caribbean is a new migration route for humpback whales?
Link to Video on Facebook

Apr 25, 2016 - Barranco - Died

Death Of Humpback Whale Highlights Indiscriminate Nature Of Gillnets In Belize
published in Ambergris Today April 26, 2016