Research Shows Whales' Surprising Travels

Humpback whales from the South Pacific take different, winding routes to their summer feeding grounds in the Antarctic, often making several stops along the way, according to new research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Researchers tagged 20 humpback whales earlier this year off New Caledonia, a large island territory of France east of Australia, and the Cook Islands, a group of 15 islands east of American Samoa. By tracking the tagged whales by satellite, scientists hope to learn more about the creatures' migratory habits in the Southern Hemisphere's summertime. Although only 10 of the 20 tags are still operating, they've already provided researchers with a wealth of new information about how and where the humpback whales travel...