The+Humpback+Whale

Humpback whales are some of the biggest sea mammals known today. They can be up to two and a half school buses long! The whales are commonly known for their stocky bodies and distinct humps. The purpose of the hump is to breathe out water and air. Many of them are found in the North Pacific, Atlantic, and Southern Oceans. The whale is actually a species of a Baleen Whale and has many subspecies of its own.

The humpback whale tends to be very social with other species of whales and sea animals. However, they often live alone or in very small groups. The groups interact in the summer for feeding needs and year long relationships are extremely rare. Humpbacks normally migrate 16,000 miles a year, inhabiting many of the cooler and high-latitude waters. The Arabian Sea is the only body of water documented have humpbacks because of its tropical waters year round.

The gestation period for humpback whales varies upon the gender. Females can reach maturity around 2-3 years and males are anywhere from 6-10. The males often compete for a mate by fighting. The female then becomes pregnant for 11-12 months and gives birth to multiple calves. Baby humpbacks are born able to swim and can grow 1.5 feet a month while nursing! Humpback whales prefer to mate in warm waters and feed in slightly colder waters. So after giving birth, the small family travels to feed and teach their younglings how to survive. They travel back with their family and then are set off on their own.

Baleens mainly eat in the summer and survive off of fat preserves in the winter. The whales are fierce hunters and eat salmon, capelin, haddock, pollock, and much more in the warm months. Humpbacks have adapted a unique style of hunting their prey; stunning is performed by hitting the water with its fins or flukes to confuse or scare the animal. The mammal's only two predators are humans and sharks. Only the fiercest sharks hunt these huge whales, and humans hunt them for ivory and meat.

The worldwide population of humpback whales is about 125,000. The animals are rated “Least Concern” on their conservation status although two subspecies remain endangered. Many specialists are not concerned about the population and there is little action involving protecting the animals. The humpback whale is one of the most remarkable water related species and brings wonder to humans minds daily.