Whales are aquatic mammals belonging to the order Cetacea. They are some of the largest animals on Earth and are distributed throughout the world’s oceans and seas. These massive mammals can range from the 600-pound, 7-foot-long dwarf sperm whale to the colossal blue whale, weighing more than 200 tons and stretching up to 100 feet long. There are two main types of whales: toothed and baleen. Toothed whales, as the name suggests, have teeth, which are used to hunt and eat squid, fish, and seals. Baleen whales are filter feeders equipped with ‘baleen plates’ in their mouths which are used to filter small items of food from the water.
Whales migrate to different regions for breeding and feeding so they can be found all around the world. Let's take a look at different subspecies of the marvelous animal.
Antarctic Blue Whale*
The Blue Whales are the largest animals in Antarctica and the largest animals to ever live on Earth. A Blue Whale can grow up to 110 feet and weigh about 400,000 pounds. Blue whales are considered baleen whales that have around 395 hard, bristly baleen plates that descend from the upper jaw. They have an approximate lifespan of 30 to 70 years. Due to their enormous size, Blue whales have almost no natural predators. Their calves may be preyed upon by large sharks and orcas. Sadly, throughout the twentieth century, humans hunted them to the point of extinction. Even now, Blue Whales are still considered an endangered species.
Fin Whale *
Coming right behind the blue whale in size, is the Fin Whale, a huge baleen whale with a sleek streamlined body and white underside. They have a distinct ridge along their back behind the dorsal fin that gives them the nickname "razorback” or “finback.” The Fin Whale grows to between 75 to 89 feet and can weigh between 80,000 to 260,000 pounds. They are fast swimmers that can eat up to 2 tons of food daily. At this time, the entire world population of Fin Whales is estimated to be around 100,000. They reach adulthood at 25 and have a lifespan of 90 years.
Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis)
This Antarctica animal features a black body with white ventral patches, an arched mouthline, and two blowholes with a distinctive v-shaped blow. The Southern Right whale is the only large whale without a dorsal fin in the Southern Hemisphere. They grow to as long as 56 feet and weigh as much as 200,000 pounds. Unfortunately, they became the target of large-scale whaling in the 1800s and were hunted to near extinction. At this moment, there are only an estimated 350 southern right whales left. They have a lifespan of up to 70 years.
Antarctic Minke Whale
Minke whales are one of the smallest baleen whales in Antarctica. They are black to dark grayish and brownish, with a fairly tall, sickle-shaped dorsal fin. These Antarctica animals have dark and sleek bodies that can reach lengths of up to 35 feet and weigh up to 20,000 pounds. The Antarctic Minke Whale is one of the smaller species of whale that was not as targeted by hunters so they are abundant in number. On a trip to Antarctica, Minke whales can be seen ‘spy hopping’ or ‘breaching’ out of the water, which is thought to be their way of getting a better view of their surroundings. They have an approximate lifespan of 50 Years.
Sei Whale*
These whales are one of Antarctica's most sleek and fast animals, going as fast as 34 miles per hour. The Sei whale has a black body, a white belly and a tall and columnar blow that is about 10 to 13 feet high. They grow up to 64 feet in length and weigh up to 100,000 pounds. Their diet consists of krill, squid, small fish and copepods and can eat over 2,000 pounds of food per day. These creatures are so large they don’t really have any natural predators, instead human activities have been their biggest threat. Sei whales were heavily hunted during the first half of the 20th century, and their population declined dramatically. Luckily, they are now listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They have a lifespan of up to 50 years.
Humpback Whale*
Humpback whales are the most common whale in the Antarctic. They can often be seen breaching during whale watching in Antarctica. The Humpback Whale, as its name suggests, has a humped back, a knobbly head and long pectoral fins. They can grow to an average length of 52 to 56 feet and weigh about 90,000 pounds. They live up to 50 years. The humpback whale was nearly hunted to extinction during the height of commercial whaling, with global populations declining by more than 90 percent. Fortunately, the humpback whale has recovered admirably, and populations are growing.
Sperm Whale
Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales, with huge heads. Among the largest animals in Antarctica, Sperm whales have blunt noses, a small jaw, and blushy blow with uniformly dark gray skin. Their diet consists of large and medium-sized squid, octopuses, and bony fish. Sperm whales are named after the spermaceti, a waxy substance found on their heads that was used in oil lamps and candles. They are deep divers, often diving over 6,000 feet, and for as long as two hours. The sperm whale grows to reach 60 Feet and weighs 120,000 pounds. They have an approximate lifespan of 60 years.
Threats
The whale is a majestic and noble creature. It is a keystone species in the ocean ecosystem, and its decline would have disastrous consequences for the health of our planet. That is why we must work to save the whales.
A 1986 ban has made commercial whaling illegal worldwide, but there is still work to be done to save the whales. Whales are so large that they usually don’t have any natural predators. Currently, their major threat is humans, habitat degradation, pollution and climate change. Overfishing of their major food sources and fishing gear entrapment are other hazards they face. Animal Farm is asking you to do your part in helping conserve the world's whale species and their associated ecosystems. We encourage consumers to become more environmentally aware and choose sustainable products. Consumers can use their purchasing power to bring about changes in the fishing and animal industry. In addition, we can all help to save whales by supporting conservation efforts, educating others about the threats they face, and speaking out against activities that harm these majestic creatures. Continue to support organizations that are working to protect them. With our help, whales will continue to delight and amaze us for generations to come.
Thank you for joining us in Saving the Whales!
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