14 DAY TRIAL // A female gray whale set a new world record for the longest mammal migration ever documented when it swam from Russia to Mexico and then back again in merely 172 days.
According to the wildlife researchers who monitored the aquatic animal's journey, this astounding trip saw the gray whale cover a distance of 13,988 miles (22,511 kilometers).
The whale, named Varvara, embarked on its journey from the waters off the coast Russia's Sakhalin Island, together with several other marine mammals of its kind, Live Science informs.
Although seven of whales belonging to this group were tagged before leaving the area, Varvara was the only one whose satellite-monitoring device remained attached to its body throughout the entire adventure.
As illustrated in the map available below, the female gray whale and its companions kept fairly close to the shoreline while migrating from Russia to Mexico and back again.
Still, Varvara didn't stick to the same route when coming and going. This suggests that the animal knew its way around local waters and didn't have to constantly rely on the coastline for guidance.
Interestingly, wildlife researchers say that, while on its 127-day trip, the female gray while didn't once stop to feed. Apparently, eating is not something gray whales and other similar species do while migrating.
