The humpback whale Popa, monitored by the Fundación Rewilding Argentina, traveled more than 2,500 kilometers in just two weeks, from the Parque Provincial Patagonia Azul (Chubut) to Antarctica. This movement, recorded via a satellite device, revealed a new migratory route and confirmed the key role of the Argentine coast in the species’ life.
The tagging was carried out on January 13, 2026, when Popa was observed alongside another whale, diving and fishing in the area. In addition to satellite monitoring, biopsies were taken to study DNA, sex, and compare populations.
Critical feeding areas
For more than a month, Popa remained in Patagonia Azul and Rocas Coloradas, sites identified as key feeding areas. At the end of February, it began a continuous movement south, arriving on March 16 at the South Orkney Islands, where Argentina maintains its oldest Antarctic base. It stayed there for several days before continuing to the Antarctic Peninsula.
Science and conservation
The satellite tracking allowed documenting not only the speed of the journey but also little-known behavioral patterns. According to biologist Lucas Beltramino from the Proyecto Patagonia Azul:
“This type of record helps us better understand how feeding and migration areas are connected.”
Since the program began in 2021, the park went from having few records to having 239 identified individuals. The photography of the tails, with their unique spots, allows for the creation of a catalog that is enriched each season and connects records from Argentina, Brazil, Antarctica, and even the Beagle Channel.
A new migratory route
The data suggests the existence of a third migratory route closer to the coast, in addition to the known oceanic routes. This reinforces the importance of Patagonia Azul as a concentration site for humpback whales on the Argentine Atlantic coast: in a single season, more than 100 individuals were recorded in a limited area of the park.
Threats in Antarctica
Popa’s journey also exposed environmental risks. Its first stop at the South Orkney Islands coincides with the epicenter of illegal industrial fishing of Antarctic krill, where supertrawlers extract hundreds of thousands of tons per year. This activity threatens the balance of a vital ecosystem for seabirds and cetaceans, including humpback whales.
Popa’s case demonstrates the extraordinary displacement capacity of humpback whales and raises new questions about their routes and habits. At the same time, it confirms the importance of studying and protecting the ecosystems that connect Patagonia with Antarctica, in the face of threats like industrial fishing.
Here you can follow Popa’s journey
