If you’re planning a trip to Southern California in the near future, whale watching is definitely something you want to include on your itinerary. Whale watching in Southern California is one of the most popular excursions for people of all ages, as they cruise the waters trying to catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures. Blue whales are as mysterious as they are beautiful, but scientists have discovered several unique facts about them. Here are a few things you probably didn’t know:
*They feel emotions: However, the extent to which they feel them is unknown.
*They are almost extinct: Although the International Whaling Commission protects them, there are only between 10,000 and 25,000 blue wales left in the planet’s oceans.
*They have few predators: Their main predators are sharks and killer whales. They also succumb to impacts with large ships.
*Calfs are born weighing up to 6000 pounds: They are nudged to the surface by mom and other female whales so they can take their first breath of air.
*Females breed once every three years: They usually have one calf. During the first year of life, the calf can gain 200 pounds every single day.
*They are loud communicators: Not discernable to the human ear, blue whales communicate by a series of moans and low frequency pulses. These can be heard across distances of almost 1000 miles.
*They are fast swimmers: As graceful as they are, they can cruise the waters at almost 20 mph.
*They eat tiny morsels: Considering their size, they feed on tiny ocean life, such as krill. A single adult male can consume more than 40 million krill per day.
Whale watching in Southern California is a ‘must-do’ when you visit the area. Seeing these majestic creatures will certainly create lasting memories that will last long after you get home.
