Humpback whale breaching off the Madagascar coast. Photo courtesy of Howard Rosenbaum

Humpback Whale Conservation Genetics Project, Madagascar Madagascar is well known for its efforts to protect terrestrial mammals such as lemurs and other endemic animals, but the conservation of marine mammals has received less attention. A significant population of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) inhabits or migrates through Madagascar waters, yet there is little information on their distribution, abundance, or movements. In fact, the status of humpbacks throughout the entire western Indian Ocean is poorly known. This conservation genetics project, sponsored by the museum's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, is studying the humpback population that frequents the waters off of northern Madagascar in the Baie d'Antongil. This area is believed to be a major breeding and calving ground. 1 of 3