{"id":2190329,"date":"2026-03-13T18:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T17:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2190329"},"modified":"2026-03-14T06:50:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T05:50:51","slug":"older-male-whales-more-successful-at-mating-because-theyre-better-singers-shows-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/older-male-whales-more-successful-at-mating-because-theyre-better-singers-shows-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Older Male Whales More Successful at Mating Because They\u2019re Better Singers, Shows Study"},"content":{"rendered":"

Older male whales are more successful at mating than their younger rivals because they are better singers, suggests new research.<\/p>\n

The older singing whales are increasingly successful at birthing offspring compared to younger males, with the findings suggesting that the humpbacks may need time to learn and refine their singing and competitive tactics\u2014giving experienced males a clear advantage.<\/p>\n

Researchers believe that as the whale population recovers after centuries of being hunted, females may also have become more selective, which could lead to greater success among males with favorable traits or the strongest performance.<\/p>\n

The international study, led by the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, showed that the role of age in male humpback whale reproduction\u202fhas changed as their numbers grow.<\/p>\n

Whaling\u202fdrove many species to the brink of extinction, but scientists say its legacy runs deeper than just a drastic decline in numbers.<\/p>\n

Decades after commercial whaling ended, researchers found its impacts continue to shape whale populations\u2014influencing which males most often reproduce.<\/p>\n

The study,\u00a0published in the journal\u00a0Current Biology, assessed two\u202fdecades of data from humpback whales breeding in New Caledonia in the South Pacific.<\/p>\n

They found that during the early years of recovery, the population was dominated by young\u202fmales. But, over time, as the overall population increased, the age structure shifted: When older individuals became more common, they became increasingly successful at siring offspring, compared to younger males.<\/p>\n

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Group of humpback whales in breeding ground \u2013 Credit: Ope\u0301ration Ce\u0301tace\u0301s \/ Claire Bonneville (via SWNS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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Humpback whales have never been\u202fobserved mating in the wild, and so \u2018who\u2019 is fathering a calf remained\u202flargely unknown, until now.<\/p>\n

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Drawing on long-term monitoring conducted by the NGO Op\u00e9ration\u202fC\u00e9tac\u00e9s, the research team analyzed changes in age structure, behavior, and paternity in male whales.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The team applied genetic analysis to identify\u202fpaternity\u2014and used an \u2018epigenetic molecular clock\u2019 to estimate the age of individual whales\u2014all from just a small piece of whale skin.<\/p>\n

Humpback whales have undergone a remarkable comeback in recent years, and, in fact, populations are now\u00a0well above pre-whaling levels\u00a0in Australia. It now seems behavior is also evolving.<\/p>\n

The most elaborate songs in the\u202fanimal kingdom<\/h2>\n

Male humpback whales are famous for producing some of the most elaborate songs in the animal kingdom. Their powerful vocal displays can often be heard far across breeding grounds.<\/p>\n

Males may also escort females or engage in intense physical competition with rival males.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAs the population recovered, there were more older males than expected singing, escorting females, and successfully fathering calves compared to younger animals,\u201d said senior author\u00a0Dr.\u202fEllen Garland, of the Sea Mammal Research Unit.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The study\u2019s lead author, Dr. Franca Eichenberger, also from the Sea Mammal Research Unit, said new technology is allowing new insights.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is only now, as whale populations recover and new analytical tools become available, that we are beginning\u202fto understand how far-reaching the consequences of whaling truly are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe impacts extend beyond population size\u2014they shape behavior, competition, and reproduction. Virtually all\u202fpopulations of whales have changed due to whaling; our work shows that they continue to change as they recover.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow is the time we can learn so much more about their behavior and life history. We just need to keep looking.\u201d<\/p>\n

This article<\/a> was first published by Good News Network on 28 February 2026. Lead Image: Humpack whale breaching Credit: Ope\u0301ration Ce\u0301tace\u0301s \/ Claire Bonneville (via SWNS).
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