OBSERVATIONS OF HUMPBACK WHALES MEGAPTERA-NOVAEANGLIAE IN NEW CALEDONIAN WATERS DURING 1991-1993

Recent sightings confirm that humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae m igrate to New Caledonia. Totals of 37 and 73 incidental sightings were made during the winter and spring of 1991 and 1992 respectively. Sigh tings were distributed widely all around New Caledonia, but concentrat ed in the south, mainly around Noumea, Ile des Pins and the Southeast Lagoon, areas with the highest human visitation. Very young calves wer e photographed in some sightings. Encouraged by the number of sighting s, in August 1993 we commenced a programme of photo-identification and behavioural observation in the Southeast Lagoon. In five days of fiel d work, 12 humpback whales were individually identified. One of these was a resight of an animal previously photographed off the coast of Qu eensland, Australia, in 1991. This supports the hypothesis that humpba ck whales migrating to New Caledonia are from Antarctic Area V stock. 'Surface active' group behaviour, typical of male competition for fema les in breeding areas, was also noted, and humpback whale song was det ected on every day on which it was monitored for in the study area. Se veral juvenile animals were also observed. We interpret these observat ions as strong evidence that humpback whales mate and calve in New Cal edonian waters.