Some whales glide through history like well-loved melodies, popping up where you least expect them. Chantelle, with the breadth of ocean woven in her story, has left more than a sprinkle of wonder in the chilly air of Newfoundland and the sunlit blue of the Dominican Republic.
Her earliest note drifts back to July 1983, when the summer sun barely kissed the Grand Banks and Chantelle travelled those wide, plankton-rich waters. Then—like a magician whisking away in mid-show—she vanished for more than two decades, the sea keeping her secrets close, until February 2004, when she surfaced far, far south. There she was, at Silver Bank, a place where northern snowbirds turn to tropical sun, whales included. By March 2005, Chantelle lingered a little longer in those balmy waters, soaking in the warmth and stirrings of a new season.
Years spun by, and the cool charm of Newfoundland called again. On a July day in 2007, Chantelle bobbed up off Witless Bay—a spot famed for birds and barnacled beauties alike. Year after year, sightings of her unfurled like bright flags: 2010, 2013 (twice in July, eager to make her presence known), then in 2014, and again in 2017.
By July of 2020, Chantelle drifted off Horse Chops before circling back to the steadier embrace of Witless Bay in 2025. That year, among the puffins and capelin, she was seen with a calf at her side—proof that the story of Chantelle is not just long, but blooming with new chapters. Later that summer, she brushed past Cape Spear, tracing new paths with her young voyageur in tow.
Have you seen Chantelle? If you spot her or snap a photo, send it in! Your sightings add precious threads to her tapestry, helping us chart her journeys and fill those intriguing gaps woven by the tides.
Witless Bay is not only famous for whales, but also boasts North America’s largest colony of Atlantic puffins—a perfect spot for fans of feather and fin alike!
Grand Banks of, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 1, 1983
Silver Bank
February 16, 2004
Silver Bank
March 3, 2005
Witless Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
July 23, 2007
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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