Ari Friedlaender, a marine ecologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a National Geographic explorer, has been studying Antarctic humpback whales since 2001. He tracks their movements and feeding habits, discovering they engage in unexpected behaviors like deep diving and breaking ice with their blowholes. His research revealed that climate change, by reducing sea ice and extending ice-free periods, is providing more krill for the whales to eat, leading to a population boom. Friedlaender uses innovative techniques, such as attaching cameras to whales, to gain unique insights into their lives and the impact of environmental changes on their survival.
Read about his full observations in the National Geographic Magazine and learn more about climate change in the Antarctic.