Returning humpback whale spotted in Babuyan waters

A humpback whale was spotted swimming in the Babuyan Marine Corridor at the northern tip of Luzon on 16 February 2026.

According to marine conservation group Balyena.org, the whale, identified as PH019, is a known female that has returned to the corridor for at least three previous seasons. This marks her fourth documented year in the area.

“Her fluke was the very first humpback to be photo-identified this season, a special way to begin our fieldwork,” Balyena.org said.

Whale flukes are the two horizontal lobes of a whale’s tail, made of dense connective tissue that functions as a powerful propeller for swimming. Scientists use the distinct markings on flukes to identify individual whales.

“Seeing returning individuals like PH019 reminds us why long-term research matters. Each re-sighting helps us understand site fidelity and how whales continue to use these breeding waters year after year,” the group said.

Aside from PH019, researchers also encountered groups of pantropical spotted dolphins and false killer whales in the area, describing the sightings as “a powerful reminder of how rich and dynamic these waters are.”

The Babuyan Marine Corridor is a critical ecological zone in northern Philippines waters. It is the country’s only known breeding and calving ground for humpback whales.

Situated around the Babuyan Group of Islands and the Babuyan Channel in Cagayan province, the corridor serves as a wintering site where humpback whales migrate annually from December to April to mate, give birth and nurse their young.