Fellowship of the Humpback Whales

Gr 7 Up—Academy Award-winning actor F. Murray Abraham narrates this live-action documentary featuring exceptional underwater videography. Filmed in the Pacific waters of Hawaii and Alaska, it follows the first year of life of a baby female humpback whale and her mother, including their migration from the warm waters of Hawaii to the krill-rich waters of Alaska. Beautiful underwater filming introduces the intriguing experiences of the young female humpback whale as she rehearses for life as an adult over her first 12 months. This program addresses the challenges faced by humpback whales as they teach their young many skills necessary to survive the several-thousand-mile migration which takes more than a month of continuous travel. From the fiercely competitive breeding grounds in the Hawaiian waters where males fight to breed receptive females to the incredible teamwork exhibited in the Alaskan waters as the whales feed daily in their preparation for the winter months and the migration back to Hawaii, the film displays two totally different and unique environments that accentuate the fellowship of the humpback whales in their daily life and quest for survival. The four teaching segments cover "Breeding Grounds," "Ocean Predators," "Migration and Feeding Behavior," and "Home Again." This program would serve as an excellent natural science selection for use in life science, biology, and/or ecology classes.—Linda M. Teel, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC