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Blue Whale: Difference between revisions
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For mating, blue whales have a 'dating period' around July or August. A male and a female will pair up and spend time together to gauge each other. During this period, another male may approach the pair to express interest in the female. When this happens, the female initiates a race between the two males. This will often lead to the two males exchanging blows using their tails and heads as they race. Whoever the female judges to be the most physically fit during the race becomes the new mate. | For mating, blue whales have a 'dating period' around July or August. A male and a female will pair up and spend time together to gauge each other. During this period, another male may approach the pair to express interest in the female. When this happens, the female initiates a race between the two males. This will often lead to the two males exchanging blows using their tails and heads as they race. Whoever the female judges to be the most physically fit during the race becomes the new mate. | ||
Despite being the largest animals to ever exist, scientists have yet to pinpoint the details on where and how blue whales mate. All that's known is that it occurs during late autumn to early winter, and that it | Despite being the largest animals to ever exist, scientists have yet to pinpoint the details on where and how blue whales mate. All that's known is that it occurs during late autumn to early winter, and that it happens somewhere within the warm waters near the Equator. Migration to the breeding grounds can last up to 4 months, during which the blue whale will not eat. The whale derives the energy to survive from its own blubber and stored calories. | ||
Unfortunately, the blue whale's large bodies and stores of blubber make them very appealing for human hunters. Since the 1700s, humans have been interested in whaling for food, oil, and clothing purposes. However, the blue whale's speed and power made them a tricky hunt, forcing hunters to instead target sperm whales. In 1864, harpoons were beginning to be mounted onto steamboats, | Unfortunately, the blue whale's large bodies and stores of blubber make them very appealing for human hunters. Since the 1700s, humans have been interested in whaling for food, oil, and clothing purposes. However, the blue whale's speed and power made them a tricky hunt, forcing hunters to instead target sperm whales. In 1864, harpoons were beginning to be mounted onto steamboats. Once the technology had been refined, hunting blue whales became a lot easier. By 1883, blue whales were beginning to be hunted. Whale hunting technology advanced with whale catchers, and by the time World War 2 came around, 90% of the world's blue whales were gone. Blue whale hunting was eventually banned and their population was allowed to recover. Their main dangers these days are pollution and effects of global warming. | ||
|trivia=* At max speed, a blue whale can reach speeds up to 30MPH. | |trivia=* At max speed, a blue whale can reach speeds up to 30MPH. | ||