What kind of social bonds do humpback whales exhibit?
Our knowledge about the social bonds of the humpbacks is not yet distinctive. We assume that most of the bonds are only short term – the longest and most intense bond being between mother and calf, since they are inseparable for at least a year. There are assumptions of a deeper complexity which deserve study. Males could cooperate, as well as compete, with each other. For example, in their breeding grounds they compete for the best place next to a receptive female. Most of the humpbacks are hunting and feeding on their own, but about 25% get together in pods and cooperate in the foraging, though they may travel alone the rest of the year.
