Cape May's Christmas whale watchers get a stunning show, experts say it's a first in a decade.
Here are the top 5 things you need to know about this:
- A rare, off-season humpback whale breach was captured on camera during a holiday boat tour, thrilling stunned tourists just miles from the Cape May shoreline.
- Marine biologists confirm this is the first documented breach in the area during December in over 10 years, linking the event to shifting prey patterns and warmer water currents near Cape May.
- The 40-foot whale performed three consecutive full breaches, with video footage already racking up over 2 million views on social media and local news sites.
- Local fishing charters and tour operators report a spike in last-minute bookings for whale-watching excursions, as visitors flock to Cape May hoping for a repeat spectacle.
- Experts warn that while exciting, the unusual behavior may signal ecological stress from changing ocean temperatures, urging locals to join citizen science monitoring programs in the Cape May region.