28 May 2025: New study tracks male sperm whale migrations from the Arctic to breeding areas

A new study by Lydersen and colleagues, titled “Annual migrations of male sperm whales from high-latitude foraging grounds to low-latitude breeding areas”, was published in Scientific Reports in March 2025. This is the first study to describe the full migration routes of adult male sperm whales in the North Atlantic.

Using satellite tags, the researchers tracked 26 male sperm whales tagged in northern Norway and Svalbard. Twelve of the whales began long-distance migrations, travelling between 4,000 and almost 8,000 kilometres to warm waters south of 45°N. Most reached these areas in about 40 days and spent several months there before heading back north. The whales did not migrate at the same time, suggesting there is no fixed breeding season.

The study also recorded extremely deep dives, over 1,000 metres, even in the breeding areas. This was unexpected, as many marine mammals are known to reduce or stop feeding during the breeding season. It suggests that male sperm whales continue to forage even while engaging in reproductive activities.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91266-8

Photo credit: Enric Sala