~ FOR GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR MARINE LIFE ~
Tracking Wildlife Using Photo ID
By conducting research in Faxaflói bay off Reykjavík and Eyjafjörður fjord off Akureyri, we are sometimes able to track whales travelling to different places in Iceland. Working with other researchers in the country also helps us keep track of them and determine how far these guys travel and why.
It always fascinates us to see them again and again - especially in different parts of the country and sometimes even internationally!
#033 & #220
ORCA
In February and March 2021, Orca Guardians Iceland were able to confirm two photographic matches between orcas seen in Iceland, and Scotland!
They were catalogued in the Scottish ID catalogue as male #033 and female #220 and both were previously sighted in Shetland in 2016, highlighting a fascinating connection between these regions.
Read more about the Icelandic Orca Project: icelandic-orcas.com
MOGUL
North Atlantic Right Whale
On 23 July 2018, for the first time in Elding's history, we came up on a North Atlantic Right Whale - and through photo ID we found out that it was a whale called Mogul, born in 2008.
He had spent most of his life around Georgia, Florida, Cape Cod Bay and the Bay of Fundy before crossing the Atlantic Ocean. A year later, Mogul was even seen again, but this time near France!
Read more about this encounter: neaq.org/a-rare-right-whale-sighting-in-iceland
N/N
ORCA
A pod of Orcas we encountered Eyjafjörður in April 2019 was seen in Hólmavík (West-Iceland) a few weeks later. Sadly, a member of the group was found beached and deceased.
A local research team was able to determine the group's identity by comparing and cross checking information and data from us and other wildlife enthusiasts in the nearby area.
TATTOO
HUMPBACK WHALE
One of our most recognisable humpback whales is Tattoo, a regular in Eyjafjörður and a crew favourite. This individual has been seen on our tours ever since 2016 and seems to return every year as it was spotted in the same area again in 2017 and 2018!
In May of 2019, Tattoo was spotted in Breiðafjörður bay by Láki Tours, out of Ólafsvík.
On 1 July 2020, Tattoo was encountered in Faxaflói bay outside of Reykjavík! It's distinctive fluke made it easy to recognise without needing to photo match!
ÞRÖSTUR
HUMPBACK WHALE
A humpback whale called Þröstur, who was with us for almost 2 months in Faxaflói in the summer of 2015, was next spotted in summer of 2016 in Eyjafjörður in early June. To our surprise, it also returned to Faxaflói bay just a few weeks later!