Even though animals don't have a map or GPS, many of them manage to travel thousands of miles along the same path every year. Some insects, mammals, fish, and even plankton migrate based on the moon, weather, magnetic field, or memory. Many of them manage to travel much farther than most humans can.
Some birds fly from north to south poles, while a species of shark can swim for 100 days without eating. One microscopic animal swims thousands of feet every day. Learn about the most fascinating and impressive animal migrations in the world.
Arctic Terns Literally Circle The Globe
A 15-inch-long (30 cm) bird journeys farther than any other animal in the world. Every year, arctic terns fly from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica and back again: over 44,000 miles (71000 km) round-trip. Since they fly from summer in the Northern Hemisphere to summer in the Southern Hemisphere, they see more daylight than any other creature on Earth.
Researchers have noted that arctic terns live for around 30 years, meaning that they fly over 1.5 million miles (2.4 million km) throughout their lifetime. That's equal to three round-trips to the moon.
Monarch Butterflies Migrate For Most Of Their Lives
In the fall, millions of monarch butterflies leave their breeding homes in Canada and the United States to fly to southern Mexico. Unlike other species, they fly over 3,000 miles (4800 km) and never return. They spend most of their lives on this journey--flapping their wings for 2-3 months in their six-week life span.
Since monarch butterflies can't handle colder temperatures, they all fly south to the tropical mountains. According to Sarina Jepsen, director of the Xerces Society for endangered species, these butterflies may go through five generations in traveling back to Canada.
Adélie Penguins Chase The Sun
While other animals follow rainfall or food, Adélie penguins trail the sun. During wintertime, these tiny penguins cross the "fast ice" that forms around the Ross Sea off Antarctica. They then waddle back to their breeding spot in the summer. In Antarctica, the winter sun never entirely sets, giving the penguins plenty of warmth and hunting hours.
Some Adélie penguin migrations span as far as 8,077 miles (13,000 km). Their breeding colonies can contain over 180,000 nests. Scientists reported that climate change increased Adélie penguin population by 53% because of the shorter journey between land and sea.
Dragonfly Migrations Are Longer Than Monarch Butterflies'
Dragonflies make the longest migration of all insects, so long that they go through four generations before completing it. Each year, over 50 species of dragonflies cover every continent except Antarctica.
Biologists at Rutgers University have discovered that dragonflies follow moist weather, flying over 11,000 miles (18,000 km) over the Indian Ocean from Asia to Africa. Their research, published in PLoS One, suggests that these species have developed wings with higher surface area to soar farther.
Jaws Swims Really Far To Get To California
Every year, the longest shark in the world swims farther than any other shark. Great whites travel as far as 2,500 miles (4000 km) from California to South Africa in only 99 days. Like many animals, they're willing to migrate incredibly far for a better food supply.
For years, scientists wondered how great white sharks travel for so long without food, until researchers at the University of Hawaii uncovered the answer. The sharks' liver stores plenty of blubber, which saves their energy by allowing them to drift dive and remain buoyant.
Blue Wildebeest Hike The Most Famous Migration
All year round, over two million blue wildebeest hike across Northern Tanzania and Kenya in what is known as the Great Migration. From north to south, wildebeests walk over 1,000 miles (1600 km) each year in an endless circle.
Herds as long as 25 miles (40 km) migrate nonstop to follow rainfall, where the grass will be greener and longer. Safaris, photographers, and predators follow their predictable cycle every year. Their journey has been recognized as one of the "Seven Wonders of the Natural World."
Zebras Trot The Longest The Migration Of All African Mammals
Biologists discovered that another mammal beat the wildebeest when it comes to the longest hike from end to end. In the journal Oryx, researchers recorded that over 750,000 zebras traverse almost 300 miles (500 km) from Namibia to Botswana. That's a 63-hour drive farther than the wildebeests' destination.
Like wildebeests, zebras follow the African rains for better feeding grounds. But their direct, north-south route surprised scientists. For years, their route had been blocked by fences; as soon as the fences were removed, the zebras resumed their journey. This suggests that they could migrate based on memory.
Humpback Whales Swim From Alaska To Hawaii In Thirty-Six Days
Of all the mammals, humpback whales take on the longest migration in the world. In the fall, they feed in the waters of Japan, California, and the Bering Sea. When the temperature lowers, they swim almost 10,000 miles (16000 km) to Costa Rica and the Philippines for more food.
Not all humpback whales migrate at the same time; some leave around January, whereas others embark as late as February. To find enough krill for a stable breeding ground, humpbacks will travel from Alaska to Hawaii in as little as 36 days.
The Largest Turtle Swims The Longest Distance
The biggest sea turtle breed, leatherback turtles swim over 10,000 miles (1600 km) to follow their favorite food, jellyfish. Research in 2012 found leatherbacks nesting in Indonesia, the South China Sea, southern Australia, and the west coast of the United States.
Both males and females will always return to their birthplace to breed. Currently, scientists don't know how they calculate their path, but some believe that the light pink spot on their head tracks light or ocean currents.
Gray Whales Roam Almost As Far As Humpbacks
Gray whales travel almost as far as humpback whales. In the spring, they swim from the shores of Mexico to the Arctic seas every year, traversing 12,000 miles (20000 km) overall. Gray whales use sonar navigation to guide their way, and sound pollution from boats can confuse them.
As the ice melts in summer, gray whales can swim there to fatten up for their future breeding season. They then return to warmer waters to give birth. The full migration takes them two to three months.
Salmon Travel Through Freshwater And Saltwater
Every year, hoards of salmon swim around 3,000 miles (4800 km) to the freshwater rivers where they were born. Why? Because they want to produce offspring in a safe environment that they're familiar with. A single salmon may travel from Japan's oceans to its native Seattle-area rivers.
As babies, salmon undergo physiological changes for the first 2-3 years of their lives, so they must be born in fresh water. Recent studies indicate that salmon can sense the Earth's magnetic field and use it to guide their migration. Unlike other species, salmon have inherited this skill, not learned it.