Hello everyone! Today we are going to talk about a mysterious creature that lives in the deepest sea on earth. Their size is huge and they are the most beautiful singers in nature. Yes, you guessed it, our protagonist today is a whale!

Whale: How big is it?

Whales are the largest living mammals, and their size can be said to be "beyond imagination."

The largest whale, the blue whale, can reach a length of 30 meters, which is equivalent to three buses connected end to end. Their weight is even more astonishing. The largest blue whale can weigh up to 180 tons, which is 25 times that of an elephant!

Types of whales

Whales are divided into two major categories: baleen whales and toothed whales.

Baleen whales

Baleen whales are whales that hunt with their baleen. What must be? The whiskers are soft fin-like structures. Baleen whales open their huge mouths, swallow seawater violently, and then expel the seawater in their mouths through their baleen, leaving the plankton in their mouths as food. Baleen whales include blue whales, humpback whales, right whales, etc.

Toothed whales

As the name suggests, toothed whales are whales with teeth. They hunt differently from baleen whales in that their teeth are mainly used to capture prey. Toothed whales include sperm whales, killer whales (killer whales), dolphins, etc.

The living habits of whales

As a social animal, whales have very interesting living habits.

Singers

Whales have beautiful songs and are the most outstanding singers in nature. They communicate and court mates through singing, which is like a unique "whale language". Interestingly, researchers have found that whale songs also change over time, as if following fashion trends.

Jumping

Whales love to perform jumps. When they leap from the sea and then fall heavily, they create a huge splash. This performance, called a whale leap, is one of the ways whales show off their power and is also a way of communicating.

Squirting

Whales breathe through their nostrils (located on the top of their heads) and spray out water vapor in the air with each breath, forming a spectacular column of water. This is also the iconic movement of whales that we can observe on the sea.

Whale Reproduction and Parenting

The reproductive process of whales is quite interesting. During the courtship process, male whales sing and jump to attract mates. Once they have successfully attracted a mate, the whales perform a romantic underwater dance.

The pregnancy period of whales is very long, usually one to one and a half years. After birth, the calf depends on its mother for suckling. During this period, the mother whale will always protect her young and teach them survival skills such as hunting, swimming and singing.

However, it is worth mentioning that killer whales are "strict" parents and their parenting model is very special. Killer whale calves will stay with their mothers for life after birth and will not leave their mothers when they grow up like other whales.

Challenges facing whales

Although whales are the top predators in the ocean, they also face Many challenges.

Whaling

In the past, the whaling industry was so prevalent that many whale populations were decimated. Although whaling is now banned in many countries and regions, there are still some countries and regions that continue to engage in whaling activities.

Ocean pollution

Ocean pollution has had a serious impact on whales. Plastic garbage, chemical pollutants, etc. will affect the living environment and food sources of whales, and even endanger the lives of whales.

Climate Change

Global climate change has led to changes in marine ecosystems, which has had a considerable impact on the survival of whales. Rising ocean temperatures and melting polar ice caps may lead to changes in whales' habitats and food sources, affecting their survival.

What can we do for whales?

As residents of the earth, we have the responsibility to protect these beautiful marine creatures, whales. So, what should we do?

Support marine conservation organizations

Support some organizations dedicated to protecting marine life, such as World Wildlife Fund, Sea Shepherd, etc.

Reduce the use of plastic products

Minimize the use of single-use plastic products, such as plastic bags, plastic bottles, etc. These products will eventually enter the ocean and pose a threat to marine life such as whales.

Promote environmental protection concepts

By promoting environmental protection concepts, more people can understand the importance of marine protection, thereby enhancing people's environmental awareness and reducing pollution to the ocean.

Conclusion

Whales are one of the most mysterious creatures on earth. Their huge size, beautiful songs and unique living habits make us fascinated by them.

At the same time, we should also pay attention to the challenges faced by whales and do our best to protect these mysterious and beautiful creatures. We hope that through today’s science popularization, more people will understand and pay attention to whales, so as to jointly protect our oceans.