Humpback whales migrate seasonally from their winter breeding grounds in the tropics to their summer feeding grounds near the poles where they spend the majority of their time feeding on krill (small shrimp like crustaceans). To date, seven humpback whale breeding populations and six IWC management areas are recognized for the Southern Hemisphere. Few studies have examined the movement patterns of humpback whales off the Western Antarctic Peninsula, although it is suspected that a proportion of the population feeding in this region during summer migrates north to the coasts of Ecuador and Columbia for the winter breeding season. The feeding destination of the humpback whale population known to winter in northeastern Brazil has yet to be discovered. Now, with recent technologies in satellite tracking techniques, we are able to literally "hitch a ride" on the back of these majestic creatures in order to gain a better understanding on the finer scale movement patterns of these elusive animals. Satellite tracking is an especially useful tool when following these animals when they cannot be readily observed, such as at night or during the winter. It also provides us with an increased resolution on they are doing during this time. For instance, it can tell us when and where animals are foraging and help identify their migratory routes. This has tremendous ecological value, as humpback whales play a very key role in the Antarctic food web as top-level predators. Knowing their distribution in Antarctica and understanding their movement patterns are the first steps in initiating effective conservation efforts, such as designing and designating specially protected areas aimed at conserving this species.

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