Cool Science

Sounds from Tanzania's Sea

Does the most magnificent migration in Tanzania take place in the water? WCS's Tim Davenport asked the question late last year, in an article for the magazine, Paa Tanzania.

During winter in the Southern Hemisphere, from roughly June to November, thousands of humpback whales pass by the country. They're on the move north, from feeding grounds in the Antarctic to breed and give birth in warmer seas.

Now, scientists are poised to learn more about this amazing movement. WCS Tanzania recently deployed five acoustic recorders in the waters north of the capital, Dar es Salaam, around the islands of Pemba and Unguja.

Similar to the researchers studying New York's seascape, they hope the recorders will shed light on the whales' migration routes, relative abundance, behavior, and preferred habitat.

Keep an eye on WCS Tanzania's Facebook page for updates.