LONG DURATION TRANSMITTER
Eos
Female with calf
Place of tagging: Golfo Nuevo
Date of tagging: Oct. 25, 2023
Transmission stopped: Jul. 15, 2024

Photo:

Eos´s tracking route

  • Eos was the whale with the longest transmitting satellite tag, out of all the whales tagged in the 2023 season: 264 days (almost 9 months), during which she traveled 21,150 kilometers (13,142 miles). Upon departure from Peninsula Valdés, she began her migration traveling southeastwards towards the area between the Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands) and the Islas Georgias del Sur (South Georgia), from where she entered the Atlantic ocean basin various times as far north as the latitude of the Blue Hole. During her last travels southwards, Eos bordered the submarine mountain range from which rise the Islas Georgias del Sur (South Georgia), reaching the far southeast area of the plateau that surrounds the islands. She stayed in this sector more than four months, feeding. During the last month she was tracked, Eos headed towards the Atlantic ocean basin. Her many changes of direction, and short distances traveled suggest she was feeding. On July 15 we lost contact with her satellite transmitter.

  • After four months Eos has left the productive waters surrounding the Islas Georgias del Sur (South Georgia). Traveling northwards, she crossed the Malvinas (Falklands) plateau, and entered the deep ocean basin of the Atlantic Ocean. She is now at the latitude of Golfo San Jorge, 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles) east of the patagonian coast, and more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from Islas Georgias (South Georgia).

  • Eos remains over the plateau of the Islas Georgias del Sur (South Georgia). After more than three months almost stationary in an area southeast of the archipelago, she began moving westwards, coming ever closer to the steep coasts of the largest island.

  • Eos continues over the far southeast corner of the plateau of the Islas Georgias del Sur (South Georgia). Her permanence in this zone since March, and her circular trail, indicate that she has found a highly productive feeding area.

  • Eos remains over the plateau of the Islas Georgias del Sur (South Georgia), in the far southeast and close to the slope of the archipelago. Her prolonged stay of many weeks at the northern tip of the Scotia Sea, and her circular tracks, suggest she has found a productive patch in which to feed, and to which Artemisa and Persefone seem to be approaching.

  • Eos has been roaming the shelf off Islas Georgias del Sur (South Georgias shelf) since the end of February. She explored the northern sector, traveling southeast, always near the archipelago shelf’s slope. Her prolonged time in this area and the pattern of her movements suggest that Eos is feeding.

  • After the last update, Eos explored the northern section of the Islas Georgias del Sur (South Georgia) plateau. She has now paused in the northeastern section, over the slope of the archipelago. Eos’ movements indicate she has likely found a productive zone in which to feed.

  • In these last few days Eos traveled 700 kilometers (435 miles) eastward over the Scotia Arc, reaching the edge of the submerged plateau of the Islas Georgias del Sur (South Georgia).

  • Eos continues holding the 2023 season record as the whale that has traveled the farthest (11,235 kilometers; 6,981 miles). After entering the deep ocean basin, she backtracked to her previous location over the Malvinas (Falkland) plateau, east of the islands. Artemisa and Persefone are in the same area, suggesting that the waters over that section of the continental shelf are highly productive.

  • Eos continues to be the whale which has traveled farthest since being tagged, having covered more than 10,700 kilometers (6,649 miles) during her 83 days tracked. She has now left the waters over the Malvinas shelf and entered the deep ocean basin.

  • Eos continued southwards in the deep ocean basin, circled the submerged Maurice Ewing plateau of the Malvinas (Falklands), and is now approaching the Scotia Arc, 300 kilometers northeast of the Islas Georgias del Sur (South Georgia). Eos has thus far traveled about 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles).

  • Eos is an adult female who, with her calf, traveled the coastal waters between Punta Cormoranes and Morro Nuevo, close to the mouth of the gulf. Almost one month after deployment of her satellite transmitter, on November 22, Eos and her calf began their migration traveling directly to the Blue Hole. They crossed the continental slope and are now exploring the deep ocean basin.