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The 29 June at the 3 July 2015, during the days preceding the Festival of whales, a World Congress of humpback whales will be held at Sainte-Marie.

A first for the big island

Organized under the leadership of the association Cetamada, the first edition of the World Congress of humpback whales has leitmotif 'whale lever of conservation and development.. This meeting aims to develop scientific studies and means of conservation of cetaceans in their feeding site, migration and reproduction. It is also intended to Sainte-Marie Island driver in the area of the conservation of marine specimens. More than 100 scientists and researchers will be gathered throughout the event. Each of them will be able to provide expertise on conservation and the way of life of the whale humpback.

In the program of the Congress

The World Congress of humpback whales will be held in the hotel Soanambo at Sainte-Marie. Various scientific meetings are scheduled during the event. Between the 29 June and 1 July, a series of conferences will be organised. Two days, the some 150 speakers will be able to participate in various workshops during which selected Malagasy students will have the privilege to interact with them. The 3 July afternoon, the Congress will be closed "output whale., a trip rich in discoveries. Note that a photo contest will be also organised throughout the event.

About Cetamada, the organizer of the Convention

Cetamada is an association that was created in 2009. Advocating sustainable development, She works in the conservation of marine mammals and the preservation of their habitat on the big island. Sitting on the island of Sainte-Marie, It extends its activity on the island of Nosy Be, to Mahambo, in Majunga, Maroantsetra and Fort-Dauphin. The organization is also distinguished by the awareness of the local population, participates in the various activities and cultural events organised in the territory.

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Nowhere else you can observe the extraordinary ballet of humpback whales in Madagascar.
Bump or humpback whales have the scientific name Megaptera novaeangliae. They are part of the family of cetaceans and whale baleen whales or mysticeti. Other names (Humpbacks, stop whale, Whale humpback or Cape) are no longer only rarely used to refer to humpback whales. These are among the large cetaceans, with a length which varies from 12 to 16 metres and near 40 tons of mass. Yet, compared to blue whales (the largest species of cetacean and the largest living animal, with a weight of 150 tons), humpback whales are still average.

Humpback whales have very long pectoral fins. Many criteria to easily recognize the humpback as their solid body, an all black upper part and a lower part rather whitish,…

When they make a dip, the humpback are out of water their large caudal fin of black and white color, This fin has a ripple on his posterior.

Humpback whales are present in many of the world's oceans. They are a migratory species, they move from one season to the next, cold latitudes to tropical or sub-tropical waters waters. Madagascar, their favorite place is the sea of Sainte Marie and the Bay of Antogil.

During the summer, they do that build up fat reserves that will be used during the winter hunting krill and small fish shoals (herring, capelin, launch,…). To capture their prey, they hit the water with fin and they can also attack directly. During the austral winter, whales Woo, mate and full females calving and initiate their small, calves, to life.
Each year, from July to September, the arrival of these whales in the sea of Sainte Marie causes a great festivity named 'Zañaharibe' which pays tribute to this animal very respected and considered to be a God, by the inhabitants of Sainte Marie ; from where the name "Zañaharibe" which means great God.

The observation of these humpback whales off the coast of the island from the Mainland or on board vessels specially chartered or participating in a photo safari is a unique show to the world that you're not ready to forget.

The acrobatic behaviour and melodious songs, very elaborate and unique whales will surely enchant you and leave you memories. Regular jumps out of the water of these humpback whales are spectacular and make their popularity. They express themselves through these grandiose gestures such as the striking of the pectoral or caudal fins on the surface of the sea.

These jumps and these behaviors all have a precise meanings, as the love parade, sexual, communication, the removal of stray shells, zone marking, intimidation, inspection of the surrounding area, etc… They offer above all an amazing choreographic show.

In addition to these jumps, they are manifested in many other social behaviors that are the delight of all those who have the chance to observe.
As a mammal, humpback whales breathe using lungs. This breathing therefore obliges them out regularly out of the water. When they surface, they expel through their vent air from the lungs ; and their breath usually causes a real jet of water over 2 meters or form a cloud in the shape of cauliflower.

The issuance of this breath is followed shortly after by the appearance of the dorsal fin, Chunky. It remains visible when the animal is the round back to begin a dive. It is to this gesture of round back before diving that humpback whales are named.

For fans of its wild and typical, You'll be pampered by humpbacks with their long complex song. During your trip at sea off the coast of Sainte Marie, the ballets of whales passes are accompanied by incessant bass notes composed of distinct syllables. The notes that they emit have an amplitude and a highly variable frequency. The sounds are also repetitions of coherent and nested sequences. The whales do not emit only songs during the mating season. Although some specialists consider it as songs of seduction, the meaning of these songs is not yet very clear, However their perfection is unanimity among all the faithful listeners from all four corners of the world. .

The songs are very specific of a whale to another, from one region to another and from one herd to another ; and personal song of a whale is changing little by little over the years. After a period of ten years, a whale emits more the same notes that it has issued previously.

The mechanism of humpback whale song cache still behind many mystery and unknown because these animals have no vocal cords. How do they come therefore to produce their songs ? This question remains still pending.

Compared to other species of cetaceans which tend to be more and more rare, the population of humpback whales reconstitutes more easily because they are generally low every two or three years. It is not uncommon to see some females giving birth to calves two years away. Whale females carry their offspring for a period of eleven months.

At birth, the calf measure 4 to 4,5 meters with a mass of 700 kg approx.. During their first six months, they depend exclusively on their mother's milk. It was after this period of six months they begin to feed themselves while is nursing until they reach their early age. Before leaving their mothers, These calves were introduced by their mother in the warm seas. You can watch whales mothers protective behaviors and initiations of calves during the festival «Zanaharibe..
Calves sexual maturity happens after five years and they reach their final adult size, from 16 meters long on average a weight of 40 tons, After six years. Humpback whales have a life expectancy of one half a century.

But Mary isn't the only place where l”You can meet them.
Other sites like Maroantsetra where Mahajanga is also an ideal place as well as in the South in Anakao and reserve of Cape Sainte Marie periods from June to October .