Weilermann et al. (2010) created the first photo-identification catalog for Northern Bottlenose Whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) in the Azores, and photographed 135 individuals between 2003 and 2009 in order to investigate their movement and site fidelity.

Objectives

To create the first photo-identification catalogue for Northern Bottlenose Whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) off Pico Island, Azores.
To assess the migration behavior and residency patterns of Northern Bottlenose Whales in the Azores, based on photo-identification data.
To investigate the seasonal presence of the species and track the length of stay of identified individuals.

Impact

The long study yielded 135 individual Northern Bottlenose Whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) with re-sightings across the years.
Primarily we observed the whales in July and August and they were found in the study area from 1 to 13 days. Individuals whales could be identified by the photo-ID catalogue, one of which was re-sighted over multiple years.
The results indicate an important role of the Azores for this species as a stopover and they should be studied for their migratory behavior and habitat requirements at a future date.

Supported UN Global Goals

This work serves to advance Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) through the creation of the following complete photo-identification list of Northern Bottlenose Whales in the Azores. Through this, the study provides insight on the distribution of each whale, their movement and habitat use, which are vital for planning of conservation measures and the management of the whales in the Azores.