Why do whales breach? 🐋 Whales breach for various reasons as this behavior likely serves different functions throughout the course of their lives. Repeated breaching helps calves build vital energy stores and muscle needed to migrate back to feeding grounds by increasing myoglobin levels in their tissue. A protein found in muscle cells, myoglobin is iron- and oxygen-binding and likely extends humpbacks’ breath-holding ability when diving. 🐋 📸Research activities authorized under NMFS/MMPA ESA