Page 71 - World of Animals - Issue #41
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The humpback whale
Nearest
neighbours
Check out the other amazing
animals that live with or around
the humpback whale
Orca
The ruthless killer whale is a known
predator of humpback calves. These
whales will mercilessly chase down
a calf until it’s exhausted. However,
adult humpbacks are much larger and
stronger and will protect their young.
Dolphins
Dolphins live in large pods throughout
BELOW This map the world’s oceans. They socialise
highlights the hunting and play together, communicating
and feeding grounds, via clicks and whistles. In Hawaii,
as well as the breeding dolphins and humpbacks have been
grounds, of humpback observed ‘playing’ together.
whales in both of the
world’s hemispheres
Remora
These curious fish have large sucker
pads on their heads, which they use to
attach themselves to – and hitch a li
with – larger ocean-cruising beasts.
It’s not uncommon to see humpbacks
with several remora tagging along.
Feeding
Breeding
Arabian Sea © freevectormaps; NaturePL/Tony Wu/ Doug Allan; Thinkstock; NOAA; Alamy; FLPA; Getty/ Dave Fleetham; The Art Agency/Peter Scott
Denizens of the deep
Found in all major oceans, the humpbacks face a wide range of threats
Humpbacks are a migratory species. Their prey lives in polar hunting by humans for oil, meat and baleen. Thankfully, their
waters, yet to give birth the whales need the shallow, warm population is recovering well due to the international ban on
waters of the tropics. This life cycle means that every year the whaling. However, threats from nations to continue whaling Krill
humpbacks make the longest migrations in the ocean. Only remain a serious concern. A favourite of many baleen whale
species, krill live in giant swarms
one group of humpbacks in the Arabian Sea do not migrate. Many other dangers are also present, from climate change in the polar regions, feeding on
Due to the fact that they travel such long distances, this to entanglement, and even noise pollution from shipping can phytoplankton (tiny algae). At 5cm
increases the threats to these whales. In the 1980s humpbacks confuse and distract these sensitive mammals. Their slow (1.96in) in length, these tiny creatures
were classified as Endangered by the IUCN due to devastating growth and maturity rates make them particularly vulnerable. are a huge part of the food chain.
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