| Summary: | Progress Code: completed Purpose Individual identification allows the production of sightings histories required for a mark-recapture approach to estimating abundance. These data will also provide information on blue whale population structure and movement. Individual blue whales are identifiable from unique patterns of mottled pigment on both sides of the body, and also from variations in dorsal fin shape and any permanent scars that may be present. All photos taken during the two Blue whale voyages undertaken in January and March 2012 in an attempt to get a best photo identification image of pygmy blue whales. Whales from the January voyage are numbered sequentially beginning with 1; whales from the March voyage are numbered sequentially beginning with 101. The folder contains a best left side and a best right side photo of each whale (if available). Identification photos of whales where a dorsal fin was not visible are included only if there was a dorsal fin visible in a good identification photo of the other side of the whale. Photo filenames include the photographer’s initials: CJ = Catriona Johnson DD = Dave Donnelly MD = Mike Double JS = Josh Smith NS = Nat Schmitt PE = Paul Ensor PO = Paula Olson RS = Rob Slade VAG = Virginia Andrews-Goff
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