Happywhale - Humpback whale in Indian Ocean

Happywhale

Dataset credit

Happywhale and contributors

Contacts

RoleNameOrganization 
Primary contact Ted Cheeseman Happywhale.com
Data entry Ei Fujioka Duke University

Citation

Happywhale. 2025. Happywhale - Humpback whale in Indian Ocean. Version 1.3.0. Dataset published in OBIS-SEAMAP and originated from Happywhale.com. https://doi.org/10.82144/591826ed.

Abstract

Happywhale.com is a resource to help you know whales as individuals, and to benefit conservation science with rich data about individual whales.

Purpose

N/A

Supplemental information

Sightings and images were submitted to Happywhale by contributors. A portion of the Happywhale data were transferred to OBIS-SEAMAP upon the agreement between Happywhale and OBIS-SEAMAP.

There may be duplicate records among Happywhale datasets and other OBIS-SEAMAP datasets. The precision of date/time vary per record. Some records have date accuracy up to year only.

This dataset includes sightings and photos from the following 293 contributors in alphabetic order:

Aaron Taylor; Adrian Bell; Adrian Boyle; Aimee Jan; Alan Straton; alex; Alexander Heyd; Alexander Vogel; Alex Bradshaw; alex krowiak; Alex Vogel; Alfred John Burgess; Alice Forrest; Andy Gilbert; Angie Gullan; Anne McGregor; Anthony Kelly; Anthony McArdle; Arsenii Kupriianov; Arthur Teo; Ashleigh Peters; Atlantine Boggio-Pasqua; Atzmon Dagan; Aurelie Verachtert; Baptiste N; Barbara Perren Zimmerli; Benjamin Wambergue; BERDNIKOVA; Bernard Ash; Berno Phillipson; Bethany Hannah Carmody; Bianca Tree; bodarwe; Bronte Halden; Brooke Lloyd; Brooke Pyke; C0nfetti core; Caius Cheung; Cameron Moore; Caroline LAURENT; Cees Tineke; Centre for Whale Research Western Australia; Cétamada; Ceta'Maore; Chantelle Dixon; Chauvin Anaelle; chengzhang; Cheryl Carver; Chiara; Christine Olson; Christoph Bialek; CLEEVE ROBERTSON; Colleen Talty; Conor Ryan; Coralee Askew; Cristina Botha; Cristina García Martín; Cynthia Black; David Donnelly; David Simes; Dayia Rossiter; Deb Philipps; Deep Voice; Denise Glass; Desnos; Devienne Gilles; Dmitry Evseev; Dominik Dietrich; Don Marx; Doriane; Dot Robertson; Dr Brett Morgan-Evens; Dustin; Eddy Thys; Ed Tissink; Eileen Goersdorf; Ekaterina Kalashnikova; Elisabeth Rhodes; Elisa Seyboth; Elizabeth Donnelly; Ella Wake; Els Vermeulen; Emily Gosden; Emma Chereskin; Emma Luck; Emma Sharp; Environment Society of Oman; Esther van der Stappen; Ethan Hollowell; Eulalia Busquets; Evan T; Fabio picinato; Florian quiquerez; Fontaine Xavier; Frank Eckler; Frank Welten; Fritzie Senturias; Gabrielle Lui; Gary Allport; Geoff Kerr; Geoff Schembri; Georgia Melvin; Gill Braulik; Giulia; Grace Russell; Graeme Hillary; Graham Downer; Grant Griffin; Gwen Penry; Hans de Bie; Harry Douglas; Hayley Islip; Hayley Newell; Henri Boersema; Ian Clare; Inigo Koefoed; Jade Asiu; Jade Fraser; Jaden Orli; James F C Hyde IV; Jan Fijolek; Jan Hunter; Janina Liedermann; Jasmin Wulf; Jason turl; Jay Paul; Jeanette Michalopoulou; Jeffrey Garriock; Jeffrey Slater; Jennifer Keeping; Jenny Johnson; Jesse cook; Jess Flack; Johannes Pikaan; Joh B; John Geoffrey Taylor; John O’Connor; John Tathem; Jonathan Waterhouse; Jordan Breslin; Karen Whelan; Kate Sprogis; Katharina von Eynern; Kathryn Rohan; Katia Benini; Katie Gates; Kelly Rea; Ken Finlay; Ken Goulding; Kenya Marine Mammal Research and Conservation; Khrishnali Takoor; kimberley J; Lana Barteneva; Laura Gourgas; Laura Grantham; Leah Smith; Lena Menzel; Libu Cyprien; Li Malone; Linda Heads; Linda Horton; Linda Ness; Livia Gavard; Lore Braeken; Lucas Facchinetti; Luella Bartlett; Luke Manson; Lyn Irvine; Machi Yoshida; Madeleine Brasier; Madeleine Mott; Maeva Terrapon; Maksim Zaitsau; Mandroso97; Marc Sharfman; Mareasa Ford; Marian Herz; Marianne Brown; Marilia Olio; marine malen; Mark Abela; Mark Brown; Marta Filippini; Martin Banks; Maureen Macdonald; Mdu Seakamela; Medina Jasar; Megan Todd-Jones; Melanie Keyte; Melissa Nel; Michael Keogh; Michael Sheehan; Michael Williamson; Michèle Vogel; Mike Greenfelder; MIM Network; Mi Shell; Mónica Lozano Subiranas; Nakia Cullain; nancy dufrenne; Natasha Allen; NAVIERE Nohann; Neil Kevin Wilkinson; Neni; Nicole Smyth; Niiicky; Ningaloo Marine Interactions; Noel Outtrim; Nyal Mueenuddin; Ocean Safari/ NVT; Olaf Pignataro; Olivier Segers; Paige Zuidema; Pamela Le Noury; Paola B; Paul Maharaj; Pedro Víctor Albaladejo Fresnadillo; peter allsop; Philip Milton; Phil Todd; pia markovic; RaAn; Rachel; Raggy Charters; Raina Burke; Ramzy Haddad; Rebecca Pavey; Renee Morgan; Ricardo Rangel-Reyes; Roanna Horbelt; Robert Akester; Robert Smith; Robin Hicks; Rod Long; Rodrigo A. Martinez Catalan; Rose Bilbrough; Rosie Leaney; Rowan Streeter; Sally Gleeson; Sandy Nelson; Sara Catella; Sarah Gower; Sarah Kather; Sarah Tranmer; Sarah Tuckfield; Sarvesh Natu; Scott; Scott Portelli; Sean Ward; Seiyia Leakey; Sherri Daniels; Shirley; Simone Eley; Simon Mahood; Stanislav Stelmakhovich; Stefania; Stella Fish; Stephen Anstee; steve; Steve Benjamin; Stuart reader; Sue Holman; Susana Latorre; Suzanne Johnson; Sylvia Hsueh; Tammy Patterson; Tamrez; Tanja; Ted Gaten; Teresa Holtmann; Terese Drummond; The Dolphin Centre; Théo Stora; Thibaut Bouveroux; Tiffany mckenzie; Tim Awbery; Toby Dickson; trevor Kay; Vesagen Mudaly; Victor Zhang; Vincent Quiquempois; Violaine Dulau; Wade Kevin Eastburn; Wayne Sentman; Wei Deng; Wendy Hare; Whale Watch Western Australia; William Gilmore; WONG TSZ YUI; Yat Wong; Yeon Bin Kim; Yiew Lee Siew; Zaitseva Kristina

Change History

The dataset has been updated over time as outlined below. Each entry includes the version number, release date, type of change, and a short description.

- 1.3.0 (2025-09-30) - Update
  • Complete refersh due to database migration in Sep 2025
- 1.2.0 (2025-09-30) - Update
  • Complete refersh due to database migration in Sep 2025
- 1.1.0 (2025-08-11) - Update
  • Complete refersh due to database migration in Aug 2025
- 1.0.0 (2018-02-23) - Initial
  • Initial release

References

Attributes

Overview

This section explains attributes included in the original dataset. OBIS-SEAMAP restricts the attributes available to the public to date/time, lat/lon and species names/counts only. Should you need other attributes described here, you are encouraged to contact the data provider.

Attributes described below represent those in the original dataset provided by the provider.
All attributes are included in the downloadable file (CSV or ESRI File Geodatabase) for "Complete Set of Dataset".

Attributes in dataset

Attribute (table column)Description
oidInternal ID
typeAlways 'Event'
modifiedLast modified
languageLanguage. Always 'en'
institution_codeInstitution code. Always 'Happywhale'
basis_of_recordBasis of record. Always 'HumanObservation'
occurrence_idOccurrence ID assigned by Happywhale
catalog_numberCatalog number. A link to Happywhale
recorded_byPerson or organization who recorded the data
individual_countNumber of animal. Always 1
sexGender of the animal if known
preparationsMethod of data collection. Always 'photograph'
occurrence_remarksOccurrence remarks
organism_idOrganism/animal ID assigned by Happywhale
organism_nameOrganism/animal name by provider
organism_remarksOrganism remarks
event_idEvent ID assigned by Happywhale
event_dateDate the picture was taken
event_timeTime the picture was taken in local time zone
higher_geographyOcean the animal was seen
water_bodyDetails of ocean
localityLocation of ocean
verbatim_localityLocation of ocean described by the provider
decimal_latitudeLatitude in decimal degrees
decimal_longitudeLongitude in decimal degrees
geodetic_datumGeodetic datum. Always 'EPSG:4326 WGS84'
coordinate_precisionCoordinate precision
scientific_nameScientific name
taxon_rankTaxon rank
vernacular_nameCommon name
licenseLicense for picture
rights_holderRights holder
external_resourceLink to the picture (mid size)
external_resource_thumbLink to the picture (small size)
OBIS-SEAMAP ID1763
DOI10.82144/591826ed
Version1.3.0
Seabirds0
Marine mammals13,750
Sea turtles0
Rays and sharks0
Other species0
Non spatial0
Non species0
Total13,750
Date, Begin1988-07-09
Date, End2025-09-24
Temporal prec.111111
Latitude-38.71 - 19.88
Longitude20.61 - 142.96
Coord. prec.6 decimal digits
PlatformBoat
Data typePhoto ID
EffortN/A
Registered2018-02-23
Updated2025-09-30
StatusPublished
Sharing policy CC-BY-NC (All)
Sub group(s)Happywhale
Shared with GBIF
OBIS
Metadata in static HTML / FGDC / EML
See download history / statistics