For centuries, humans have hunted humpback whales. There are only about 35,000 humpbacks left in the world. I’m Howard Rosenbaum, and I hope that my research will help preserve this endangered species.

In my research, I travel to Madagascar to observe humpbacks. I can tell the whales apart by their different flukes. Flukes are the broad, flat ends of a whale’s tail.

Through careful observation, I can recognize more than 500 different whales.

By comparing DNA analyses with my field observations, I can see how the whales are related and how they interact with each other. Then, I will be able to recommend how we might protect these amazing animals.