description Humphrey Overview
Humphrey was a humpback whale famous for twice swimming into the freshwater San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento River Delta in California. During his first inland journey in 1985 and again in 1990, he became stranded miles away from the open ocean, prompting massive, highly publicized rescue operations. Rescuers successfully guided him back to the Pacific both times by using a combination of acoustic devices and boats to herd him out of the shallow waters.
help Humphrey FAQ
Who or what was Humphrey the whale?
Humphrey was a famous humpback whale who repeatedly swam into the inland waters of California. He made national headlines by getting lost in San Francisco Bay and traveling miles up the Sacramento River.
How many times did Humphrey get stranded in California inland waters?
Humphrey notably swam inland and got lost twice, first in 1985 and again in 1990. Both incidents required massive, large-scale rescue operations by marine biologists and the Coast Guard to guide him back to sea.
How did rescuers manage to guide Humphrey back to the ocean in 1985?
In his first stranding, rescuers used a technique of playing the sounds of humpback whales feeding to draw him downstream. They combined this acoustic luring with physical barriers of pipes to block his path up the river.
What ultimately happened to Humphrey the whale?
After his second successful rescue from the Sacramento River in 1990, Humphrey was guided back to the Pacific Ocean. He was later positively identified by his tail fluke markings swimming in the waters off Half Moon Bay in 1991.
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