The gulls were extra chatty as a cool sea breeze rollicked through Lighthouse Cove, shivering the wildflowers along the shoreline. There’s a certain freedom in the air when LIBERTE, a grand lady of the sea, breezes through—the sort that’s as refreshing as a plunge in July waters.
LIBERTE is no stranger to distant coastlines. One February, back in 2015, she was sighted in the sunny blue cradle of Samaná Bay, Dominican Republic. There, warm breezes and tropical light set the scene far away from the rugged capes of Newfoundland and Labrador. Years drifted by with only whispers from the deep to account for her adventures, until she surfaced again in 2022, delighting folks within five miles of St. Lunaire-Griquet. The northern cliffs stood witness to her graceful return, dipped in sea spray and northern fog.
She must have carried a song worth sharing, for her next visit took her farther south, to Trinity in late July 2025. There, she wasn’t alone—keen eyes spotted she’d brought along a calf, gliding beside her like a shadow cut from sapphire. That same summer, not content to rest long in one spot, LIBERTE made her way to Bonavista, blending old-world charm with sea-air mischief.
By the following July, the northern air once again felt her presence—first east of Quirpon, where lighthouse beams sweep the water, then in St. Anthony, where capelin roll and icebergs wander. LIBERTE seems to favour the winding coastal tapestry of Newfoundland and Labrador, threading memories through its chilly bays and sun-splashed coves.
Have you seen LIBERTE? If you spot this wondrous whale or catch a photo, your sighting adds to her grand tale and helps unlock the mysteries of her journey between warm southern seas and our northern reaches. Every report paints a clearer picture of migration and fills gaps in our knowledge. Keep your eyes on the rolling blue, and help us weave the whales’ stories wider and richer.
Did you know? Humpback whales like LIBERTE can travel thousands of kilometres each year, feasting in the north and calving in warm tropical waters—true ocean wanderers!
Samaná, Samaná, Dominican Republic
February 18, 2015
Within 5 miles of St. Lunaire-Griquet, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 26, 2022
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 21, 2025
Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 24, 2025
This is Happywhale's real data for this whale. The story above was generated based on these details, and a few creative assumptions.

Now that you've met LIBERTE, introduce them to your friends! Share this page directly below or to post as a social media story. Use #HelloHumpbackNL in your post to stay connected to all the other whale stories from Newfoundland and Labrador's coasts.
Get a printable version of this story.
By submitting to Happywhale, your sighting can become part of LIBERTE's data. Not only will it make their story richer for the next time they're spotted, but you'll become part of a global citizen science effort to better understand our oceans and the humpback whales that call them home.