The Wild with Chris Morgan The Humpback comeback: Vancouver's whales come home
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Jan 13, 2026 In this engaging discussion, marine researcher Chloe Robinson shares her insights on the resurgence of humpback whales in the Salish Sea after a century of near extinction due to whaling. Chloe explains groundbreaking eDNA sampling techniques that allow scientists to gather genetic information without disturbing the whales. She highlights modern threats like ship strikes and emphasizes the importance of citizen science in tracking whale populations. Tune in to discover how genetics might shape future conservation efforts and give these majestic creatures a second chance.
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Century-Old Whaling Erased The Coast
- A 1907 whaling station near Nanaimo processed 97 humpbacks and closed by 1909 when whales vanished locally.
- Chris Morgan describes the erased physical traces and the bloody, smelly history of coastal whaling.
Big Mama: The Whale That Reopened The Sea
- Chris Morgan joins Mark Mallison on a Zodiac whale-watch where they spot numerous humpbacks including Big Mama.
- Mark photographed Big Mama in 1997, the first Salish Sea humpback sighting in nearly a century, and she still returns annually.
Citizen Science Built A Whale Catalogue
- Researchers have catalogued about 1,100 individual humpbacks in the Salish Sea using fluke photos.
- The catalogue reveals unexpected population recovery and returning site fidelity after whaling ended.