Panama and Colombia share a land border, and also an interest
in the conservation of humpback whales within their territorial waters. Waters
off the coast of Panama, Colombia, and Costa Rica, are the northernmost reproduction
zones of the southeast Pacific population of humpback whales.
Local whale conservation organization Fundación Yubarta has carried an
evaluation of whale life in the Las Perlas archipelago in Panama. In an area
of 760 sq. km. 68 whales were observed during 23 hours of navigation, 32 of
which were monitored over a 12-hour period. Of special importance was the sighting
of females with young and the detection of songs. This shows that Las Perlas
is used for breeding by the whales.
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and environmental authorities in Panama are trying to conserve the humpback whale in the Las Perlas archipelago, which has been made a Marine Corridor in Panama.
The Archipelago of Las Perlas is 40 nautical miles from Panama
City. Las Perlas is mainly inhabited by small fishing communities and is made
up of about 250 different islands - larger ones include Isla San José
and Isla del Rey. The fishing community is interested now in whale conservation
in order to grow whale watching tourism as a sustainable business.
Various Tour Operators run Whale
Watching Trips to the Las Perlas Islands