New Zealand is a superb place to go whale watching. And whales are such fascinating creatures. Did you understand the blue whale’s coronary heart is the dimensions of a Volkswagen Beetle? The thoughts boggles. To aid you prep in your whale-watching tour in New Zealand and study a bit extra about these superb creatures, now we have created an inventory of 10 mind-blowing info about whales.
We requested the crew at Wings Over Whales in Kaikoura what makes these mysterious creatures of the deep so particular. Having operated scenic whale watching flights for over 20 years, they know some fairly cool info about whales…
There are two completely different teams of whale
Whales fall into certainly one of two teams, filter feeders, or toothed. Toothed whales have giant enamel for catching prey, whereas filter feeders filter theirs. Makes sense! The largest toothed whale is the sperm whale, which could be discovered proper right here in Kaikoura. The sperm whale can develop as much as 20.4 metres lengthy and might weigh as much as 50 tonnes.
They eat one million energy a day
Whales don’t do something in small measures, and their weight-reduction plan is not any exception. Blue whales can eat as much as 40 million krill per day, which may weigh as much as 3,600 kilograms.
Whales have a protracted household historical past
Whales’ earliest ancestors lived 50 million years in the past, that means that – together with lizards like our Tuatara – they’re certainly one of our few remaining connections to the age of the dinosaurs.
Whale tails are all distinctive
Each whale has a tail that’s uniquely identifiable, similar to human fingerprints! Their slits, grooves, and brown algae spots are gained over time and might’t be replicated.
Boy they’re quick
A blue whale’s tail can create as much as 500 horsepower when transferring at full pace – up there with our greatest vitality sources! If they’re startled they’ll attain speeds of as much as 45 km/h, however usually, they feed at 8-16 km/h.
Beluga whales can smile
Belugas are actually social mammals that stay, migrate and hunt collectively in pods. Their bulbous brow is versatile and able to altering form. This makes them the one member of the cetacean household that may make facial expressions!
They make numerous noise down there
Blue whales are one of many loudest animals on earth – the sounds they make could be heard by whales as much as 1,600 kilometres away.
They’re similar to us…form of
Whales are warm-blooded mammals, that means that they breathe air and produce offspring and milk similar to different mammals. The blue whale takes out the prize once more, this time for having the most important mammary glands on Earth – every is about 1.5m lengthy!
Whales love New Zealand
There are greater than 40 species of whales roaming our oceans as we speak. Almost half of the world’s whale and dolphin species could be present in New Zealand, which makes it an important place to maintain your eyes peeled every time you’re on the coast.
Whales in Maori Legend
Whales are particular and might evoke a sense in us that’s much like the one you get while you take a look at the celebrities. It comes as no shock then, to find that whales have been thought-about supernatural guardians to the Maori on their voyages throughout the pacific. Some tribes see whales because the descendants of Tangaroa, the god of the ocean. Whales possess a tapu (sacred) significance to Maori as each supernatural beings and as harbingers of non-public change and religious development.
Where to see them
If you’re within the South Island and need to see these superb animals, head to Kaikoura, the whale watching mecca of New Zealand. Soar above the ocean with ‘Wings Over Whales’ and get a real appreciation for the dimensions and sweetness of those magnificent creatures. Their high-winged plane will permit you the consolation of a novel whale watching expertise out of your very personal window seat with optimum and unobstructed viewing.