When the capelin roll and the sun shimmies over the Atlantic, it’s just the sort of morning a whale like Thora might favour—playful breezes and salt air thick with promise. Imagine the blue reaching to the horizon, and a flash of white fluke heralding another wanderer in Witless Bay.
Thora's story began with July sun warming the South Coast of Newfoundland back in 1993. She wasn't shy and soon after, in July the following year, she turned up near Witless Bay—right in the heart of whale-watching country, among puffins and bobbing fishing boats.
July after July found Thora a familiar visitor to Witless Bay, returning in 2003, then leaping forward to 2008 for another grand entrance. She seemed to have a soft spot for this corner of the world, staying close by into 2009, 2010, and making appearances in 2014 and 2016. Sometimes, she'd linger—on one grand summer in 2016, Thora was spotted twice in just a couple of weeks, gliding through the cool waters as if greeting old friends with a flick of her massive tail.
Many years might pass before a tale like hers circles back to you—and in 2025, it's as if Thora decided to take a victory lap around Newfoundland. Spotted between Bay Bulls Harbour and Gull Island, then at Vales Cove, Cape Spear, and Bay Bulls, she rounded out the month with not just one, but two proud showings in Trinity and Trinity Bay. A whale on a tour, leaving awe and a few giddy camera clicks in her wake.
Have you seen Thora? If you've glimpsed her fluke or caught her on camera, your sighting can add a new chapter to Thora’s tale. Every bit of info helps untangle the wonders of whale migration and fills in the gaps for research. Share your stories and help keep Thora’s adventures alive!
Trinity Bay and Witless Bay are hotspots for both capelin and whales—when the fish are plentiful, you can bet the gentle giants aren't far behind!
South Coast of, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 1, 1993
Witless Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 1, 1994
Witless Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 15, 2003
Witless Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 2, 2008
This is Happywhale's real data for this whale. The story above was generated based on these details, and a few creative assumptions.
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