Acoustic data and drone footage reveal new insights on elusive Omura’s whale
New research combines 18 years of underwater acoustic recordings from Australia with the first-ever drone footage of an Omura’s whale feeding. The acoustic study, published in Marine Mammal Science, shows the whales prefer warm, chlorophyll-rich waters from September to May. Meanwhile, a March 2026 drone capture off Mansaur Island provided the first visual record of the species lunge-feeding, a behavior previously unknown. These findings help clarify the habitat and behavior of a species first recognized in 2003 but still listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN.