Companions
Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Two Humpback Whales ( Megaptera novaengliae ) begin a dive and display their powerful tail flukes. The flippers of Humpback Whales are the longest of all the cetaceans and make the species very manoeuvrable. They are well known for their spectacular aerial displays, including flipper slaps, tail slaps and breaches. Humpback Whales undertake some of the longest migrations of any mammals. Starting in the autumn and continuing through the winter the male Humpback Whales sing long and complex songs to attract a female and establish dominance among the other males.