New Zealand is a superb place to go whale watching. And whales are such fascinating creatures. Do you know the blue whale’s coronary heart is the dimensions of a Volkswagen Beetle? The thoughts boggles. That can assist you prep to your whale-watching tour in New Zealand and be taught a bit extra about these wonderful creatures, we have now created a listing of 10 mind-blowing information 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 information about whales…
There are two totally different teams of whale
Whales fall into considered one of two teams, filter feeders, or toothed. Toothed whales have massive tooth for catching prey, whereas filter feeders filter theirs. Is sensible! The biggest toothed whale is the sperm whale, which might 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 1,000,000 energy a day
Whales don’t do something in small measures, and their weight loss program isn’t 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 an extended household historical past
Whales’ earliest ancestors lived 50 million years in the past, which means that – together with lizards like our Tuatara – they’re considered one of our few remaining connections to the age of the dinosaurs.
Whale tails are all distinctive
Every whale has a tail that’s uniquely identifiable, identical 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 velocity – up there with our greatest power sources! If they’re startled they’ll attain speeds of as much as 45 km/h, however typically, they feed at 8-16 km/h.
Beluga whales can smile
Belugas are actually social mammals that dwell, 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 a variety of noise down there
Blue whales are one of many loudest animals on earth – the sounds they make might be heard by whales as much as 1,600 kilometres away.
They’re identical to us…type of
Whales are warm-blooded mammals, which means that they breathe air and produce offspring and milk identical 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 immediately. Nearly half of the world’s whale and dolphin species might be present in New Zealand, which makes it an important place to maintain your eyes peeled at any time when 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 if you have a look at the celebs. It comes as no shock then, to find that whales had 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 non secular development.
The place to see them
In case you’re within the South Island and wish to see these wonderful 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 enable you the consolation of a novel whale watching expertise out of your very personal window seat with optimum and unobstructed viewing.