Fin Whales

Fin whales reach lengths of over 80 feet and occur in all oceans of the world. Despite their enormous size and widespread distribution, very little is known about their regional population structure, behavior, calving rates and ecology. Threats to their habitat such as pollution, ocean dumping, shipping, destructive fishing practices and coastal development pose modern dangers to these magnificent creatures which narrowly escaped decimation by twentieth century whaling fleets.

Single Whale Adoptions

Archie was named for the distinctive arch of her dorsal fin.

Bill, a male, is commonly seen in the company of other fin whales on Gulf of Maine feeding grounds.

George Washington, a male, was the first individual to be catalogued in the North Atlantic Fin Whale Catalogue.

Hurricane, a male, is frequently sighted near Mt. Desert Rock, Allied Whale's offshore research station.

James Bond (catalogue #0007) was actually found to be a female through recent genetic analysis.

Although Lunch lost her dorsal fin (probably in a boat collision), she appears healthy and has been re-sighted frequently in the Gulf of Maine.

Nicky Fin is named for a distinctive nick at the base of his dorsal fin.

Octopus was named for a pale octopus-shaped scar on the left side of his caudal peduncle (behind the dorsal fin).

Polly was named for the many nicks in his dorsal fin.

Raggedy was named for his distinctive dorsal fin, which is long and hooked with several indentations in the trailing edge.

Trunk was named for its seemingly truncated dorsal fin. This whale's gender is unknown.

Mother-Calf Adoptions

With a mother-calf adoption, you'll receive photographs and sightings histories for both the mother and calf.

Acadia was sighted with her first known calf Schoodic in 2003 (image left).

Quartz, a whale frequently sighted in the Gulf of Maine, was spotted with calf Braveheart in 2003.

Humpback Whales

Humpback whales reach lengths of 50–60 feet and are favorites among whale watchers for their acrobatic displays. They migrate great distances, covering up to 5,000 miles each spring and fall as they travel between their equatorial breeding and calving grounds and their high latitude feeding grounds. Along with fin whales, humpbacks frequent Gulf of Maine waters each summer to feed. Humpback whales were hunted heavily in the twentieth century and as a result their populations were depleted by approximately 95%. Fortunately, humpback populations are now showing signs of recovery.

Single Whale Adoptions

Breakers is a favorite of local whale-watchers because of his frequent acrobatic displays.

Arrowhead, a male, was first sighted in the Gulf of Maine in 1976 and has been re-sighted very regularly since then.

Gemini was named for the presence of two lines on his left fluke that resemble the symbol for Gemini, "II".

Nuke was named for the distinctive mushroom-cloud shape on his flukes.

Unlike most humpbacks, P.D. was named for the distinctiveness of her dorsal fin, rather than her flukes. Her name is short for "pointy dorsal," as her dorsal fin resembles a witch's nose.

Siphon, a regular to the Gulf of Maine, has given birth to at least 4 calves since 2000.

Triton, an easily-recognizable male, is a favorite among Gulf of Maine whale watchers.

Mother-Calf Adoptions

With a mother-calf adoption, you'll receive photographs and sightings histories for both the mother and calf.

Siphon's calf Canine has been re-sighted in the Gulf of Maine several times since first making an appearance with its mother in 2004.

P.D.'s calf Sonogram was sighted entangled in 2004 but escaped and has returned to the Gulf of Maine on multiple occasions since its injury (image left).