Marine researchers say a rare whale tracked across the Pacific Ocean into North American waters this year had been there before.
Photo analysis confirmed the western Pacific gray whale dubbed Flex - one of only 130 remaining - was photographed in 2008 off Vancouver Island.
Researchers began tracking in October when they tagged him off Sakhalin Island, Russia.
The whale travelled 8585km over 124 days.
Rare whale tracked
Photo / File photo
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