↓ Read on to watch this amazing video
key point:
- Immediately after giving birth, humpback mothers lift their newborn calves to the surface to allow them to take their first breath.
- Adult humpbacks surface on average every seven to 15 minutes to breathe – calves must swim to the surface every three to five minutes.
- Humpbacks appear to break apart more easily than other whale species.
- The giant splash from the whale’s rupture may have been an attempt at long-distance communication.
Humpback whales are known for their prominent knobby heads, breathtaking clefts and tail fins. It can push its massive body completely out of the water like an animated gymnast.
Adult humpbacks are seen on average every seven to fifteen minutes. Every three to five minutes, the calf must swim to the surface to breathe. To push themselves out of the water, humpback whales use their strong caudal fin, their tail fin. Additionally, humpbacks appear to be more prone to rupture than many other whale species.
Immediately after giving birth, humpback mothers lift their newborn calves to the surface to allow them to take their first breath. All flaps are thought to produce sounds used to communicate with other whales, while large splashes are thought to be used for long-distance communication.
Since sound travels faster and farther underwater than on land, it is possible for whales to talk to each other. Maasai Sightings is a Youtube channel about a sightseeing boat trip.
A pod of humpback whales swims in the distance, leaving visitors in awe of these gigantic animals. Little do these people know how intimate their encounter can quickly become. As they continued to observe the animals, the whales glide seamlessly underwater, invisible to the naked eye.
At the first minute and 58 seconds of the shot, something shocking happens. Suddenly, a humpback baby shot out of the water, a few feet from the boat! Splashes from the whales drenched tourists who couldn’t believe what they had just experienced.
Once the calf slid back underwater, tourists spotted it on the other side of the boat. The whales swam close to the boat, allowing them to feel the hum of the boat. This may reinforce their approaching behavior, even getting close enough to be petted by those on board.
Each cetacean touches and rubs its siblings from birth, which is thought to foster social bonding and strengthen camaraderie. For all we know, these whales may have viewed the ship as a potential friend. It is important to note that boats can be very dangerous to marine life.
Several whales had surfaced, only to land directly on the boat, seriously injuring themselves and those on board. If you are on a boat near a whale, it is best to put your vehicle in neutral until the whale has left the area. This should keep you, the boat, and the animals below safe and sound.
One of our favorite comments from the video: “An animal of such size and being able to leap out of the water and be in full view speaks volumes about the power of this creature.” What would you do if you jumped out of the water so close? This will truly make for an unforgettable story.
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.