Adopt Thorn the Humpback Whale - He is a magician
Thorn the magician
Thorn isn’t a magician in the traditional sense—no tricks or illusions—but he creates mesmerizing temporary art on the ocean’s surface. Using his blowhole, he expertly blows perfect “bubble rings” that rise like smoke rings from the depths. Among humpback whales in the Gulf of Maine population, Thorn stands out as the master of this rare technique, delighting whale watchers with his displays.
This unique ability, often performed during curious approaches to boats, highlights Thorn’s playful and inquisitive nature. It even earned him a prominent place in a groundbreaking peer-reviewed paper, “Humpback Whales Blow Poloidal Vortex Bubble Rings,” published in *Marine Mammal Science* in May 2025.
Thorn's Fluke © Whale & Marine Life Video Archive
One of Thorn's Best Bubble Rings
Thorn created this bubble ring and then spyhopped in the ring (A scene from Thorn's adoption video)
Thorn Facts
Thorn’s Story
Thorn – Truly in a Class by Himself
Born in 1983 to his mother Ebony—one of the few documented great-grandmothers in the Stellwagen Bank region of the Gulf of Maine—Thorn has become one of the most beloved and recognizable humpback whales in these waters.
Thorn’s distinctive fluke pattern—featuring a thin, thorn-like line on the left side—makes him easily identifiable in photo-ID catalogs.
Renowned for his outgoing personality, Thorn has created lifelong memories for thousands of whale watchers over the decades. He’s famous for his bold approaches to boats, often sparking excitement and a bit of controlled chaos on deck. When Thorn teams up with his frequent companion Colt, the duo turns playful rivalry into a spectacle: competing to get closest to the vessel, with dramatic pushes, shoves, and thunderous, exuberant blows that suggest they’re thoroughly enjoying the game.
One memorable encounter saw Thorn and Colt lingering beside a whale-watch boat for so long that the captain eventually backed away to return to port—only for the pair to swim straight to a nearby vessel and resume delighting a fresh group of passengers!
Thorn embodies high-energy enthusiasm in every classic humpback behavior. From powerful **kick feeding** (a unique technique culturally passed down among Gulf of Maine humpbacks) to vigorous **flipper slapping** and **lobtailing**, he performs with unmistakable gusto.
He’s also a master of creating **perfect bubble rings**, a captivating display often seen when he’s alone or interacting with other whales—whether near boats or farther offshore.
Adopt Thorn, watch his captivating video documentary, and stay tuned for more adventures from this charismatic icon of the Gulf of Maine!
Thorn’s Video Documentary (27 Min)
Discover Thorn: The Enchanting “Magician” of the Gulf of Maine
Dive into a captivating **27-minute documentary** that reveals the extraordinary world of Thorn, a humpback whale whose playful charisma and rare talents have earned him the nickname “the magician.”
Thorn is known throughout the world research community as the whale who perfected blowing perfect social bubble rings. They come in various sizes, small, medium and large. Thorn on one occasion followed the ring up through the depths and spyhopped in the center of it. This fascinating behavior, unique to Thorn is widely considered the highlight of Thorn’s documentary.
Thorn is an exceptionally sociable humpback, renowned for his bold, close approaches to whale-watching boats—often joined by companions from the Ultimate Whale Adoption Program. His interactions delight passengers and showcase the curious, confident nature of these majestic creatures.
Unforgettable highlights include Thorn and his frequent companion, Colt (known as the “friendliest whale in the world”), performing in perfect synchrony beside the boat:
– Spyhopping side by side, rising vertically to peer above the surface
– Powerful, exuberant blows echoing throughout the encounter
– Graceful dives beneath the vessel, emerging on the opposite side in what can only be described as an underwater ballet
– Rare moments of physical contact, with Thorn touching Colt—a behavior seldom witnessed from boats
Throughout the film, Thorn exemplifies the full spectrum of mature humpback behaviors, executed with unparalleled elegance and energy:
– Deep, extended dives into the depths
– Innovative bubble-net feeding, rolling over while slashing his tail in the bubble cloud
– Dramatic open-mouth lunge feeding at the surface
– Confident, curious boat approaches alongside other whales
These displays highlight the vibrant, dynamic lives of humpback whales in their natural habitat, blending power, grace, and intelligence in a truly mesmerizing portrait.
Thorn’s Family Tree
Thorn’s mother is a whale named Ebony. This documented Grandmother was first sighted in 1981.
Thorn was born in 1983 and stayed beside Ebony for nearly 10 months while he was nursing on her rich mother’s milk.
Thorn has many siblings:
Ebony’s Calves and year born
Thorn 1983
Chimney 1986
Blackout 1987
Silo 1995
Cappuccino 2002
Unnamed 2006
Thorn’s sister Chimney calves:
Unnamed 1992
Fulcrum 1997
Unnamed 1999
Unnamed 2001
Thorn’s Friends
Humpback whale relationships are very short term lasting a few minutes or a few hours.
Determining whether whales form true friendships or merely tolerate certain companions is challenging, but when multiple humpbacks approach a boat together and move in coordinated harmony, it’s reasonable to describe them as friends—or at least close associates.
Thorn has approached boats many times in the company of Colt. They always leave passengers in awe.
Thorn has been sighted with Giraffe, Anvil and Arc.