For those in a hurry
- The blue whale is the largest animal ever to live on Earth, measuring up to 30m long and weighing more than 130,000kg.
- They also has the loudest voice of any creature on the planet, producing sounds up to 188 decibels, louder than a jet engine.
- The blue whale uses its powerful sound to communicate, navigate, and find food in the vast ocean.
- They feeds on tiny shrimp-like animals called krill, consuming up to 40 million of them per day.
- The blue whale is an endangered species, with only about 10,000-25,000 left in the wild.
How does the blue whale make such loud sounds?
The blue whale has two main types of sounds: songs and D calls. Songs are composed of long, repeated units that can form phrases and bouts. D calls are short, down-swept sounds that are used for contact between whales. They produces these sounds by forcing air through its vocal cords, which are located in its larynx or voice box. The sound then travels through the whale’s throat, mouth, and nasal passages, where it is amplified by air sacs and resonating chambers. The sound finally exits through the blowhole on top of the whale’s head.
Why does they need such loud sounds?
The blue whale uses its sound for various purposes, such as communication, navigation, and echolocation. Communication is important for social activities, such as mating, bonding, and coordinating movements. Navigation is essential for finding suitable habitats and avoiding obstacles. Echolocation is a technique for locating prey and predators by sending out sound waves and listening for their echoes. The blue whale can hear far away and deep in the ocean, thanks to its sensitive ears and large brain.
What are some threats to the blue whale?
The blue whale faces many threats from human activities, such as hunting, fishing, shipping, pollution, and climate change. Hunting has reduced the population of blue whales by 70-90 percent in the past 150 years. Fishing can entangle whales in nets and lines, causing injuries or drowning. Shipping can disturb whales with noise and collisions, which can injure or kill them. Pollution can contaminate whales with chemicals and plastics, which can affect their health and reproduction. Climate change can alter the distribution and availability of krill, which is the main food source for blue whales.
How can we help them?
The blue whale is protected by international laws and agreements that ban hunting and regulate fishing and shipping activities. However, more efforts are needed to ensure the survival of this magnificent marine mammal. We can help by supporting conservation organizations that work to protect whales and their habitats. We can also reduce our impact on the environment by using less energy, water, and plastic products. We can also raise awareness and educate others about the importance of whales and their role in the ocean ecosystem.
