Pacific Whale Foundation

From the sky, we’re protecting what’s below. 🐋
Pacific Whale Foundation researchers are using aerial drones to study humpback whales and dolphins in ways that were impossible just a decade ago. By hovering above the ocean surface, drones capture high-resolution imagery that lets scientists measure body length, width, and overall body condition giving us a critical window into the health of individual animals and entire populations.
This non-invasive technology means whales and dolphins experience far less disturbance than traditional research methods, while we gain richer, more accurate data on nutrition, reproduction, and the effects of climate change on marine mammals.
Chief Scientist Jens Currie states: “Innovation in research tools allows us to ask better questions and find better answers in service of protecting whales and dolphins.”
Of course, operating drones near protected species comes with serious responsibility. In Hawaiʻi and across the U.S., strict regulations govern how, when, and where drones can be flown near marine life and PWF researchers work in full compliance with all federal guidelines to ensure our presence never becomes a threat to the animals we’re working to protect.
NMFS MMPA/ESA Research Permit 21321

Just like a routine blood draw can reveal so much about your health, a sample no bigger than a pencil eraser can tell us everything we need to know about a whale’s well-being. 🌊

Our research team uses a small biopsy dart to collect a tiny core of skin and blubber from whales. A process comparable to a quick pinprick that causes no lasting harm.

From a single biopsy, we can learn about:
🐋 Genetics & population structure
🍽️ Diet & nutritional condition
📊 Hormone levels tied to reproductive status & stress
⚠️ Presence of contaminants like heavy metals & persistent organic pollutants

This is how we go beyond what the eye can see and get to the heart of what these animals truly need to thrive. This important sample brings us one step closer to protecting whales and the ocean they call home. 💙

🔗 Learn more about our research at pacificwhale.org

NMFS/MMPA ESA permits #27099
MarineScience

What do you think is happening here? 🐋

This is a humpback whale competition group, where multiple males pursue a single female, battling for position through lunging, charging, and pushing one another aside.

It’s fast-moving, intense, and constantly changing as whales join or leave at any moment.

While most encounters aren’t lethal, the power behind these interactions is real, and in rare cases, even deadly.

Just how big can a competition group get? What’s the most you’ve seen?

NMFS/MMPA ESA permits #27099

SaveTheOcean

When a 40-ton whale decides your boat is the splash zone… 😳🐋💥👀

A humpback whale breaches feet from the research vessel, which had stopped to collect data on the group. A breach is when a whale launches itself out of the water, sometimes clearing its entire body above the surface. Using powerful tail thrusts, it builds speed and momentum before exploding through the surface in a full-body leap.

The force. The size. The sound. You feel it before you process it.

Moments like this are a powerful reminder that we are guests in their world.

Captured by the Pacific Whale Foundation’s research team, a moment they will never forget.

NMFS/MMPA ESA permits #27099

SaveTheOcean

Celebrate our Blue Planet this Earth Day 🌊💙

Make a direct impact on the ocean we all depend on. Support the hands-on conservation work of Pacific Whale Foundation; from removing harmful marine debris along our coastlines to restoring native habitats through our Mālama Pono Program.

Over the past year, our team and volunteers have removed thousands of pounds of marine debris and responded to large-scale debris events, including the recovery of massive ghost nets threatening whales, sea turtles, and fragile reef ecosystems. Every cleanup reduces entanglement risk and helps restore balance to our ocean.

Your support fuels real, measurable change; protecting marine life, preventing pollution, and strengthening the connection between land and sea through restoration efforts.

Celebrate our Blue Planet by taking action today. 🌍�
Donate, share, and be part of the movement to protect our ocean for generations to come. 💙