Table of Contents
Why does the gray whales survival matter?
Why They Matter. Whales are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall health of the marine environment. They are also highly vulnerable to human activities in the ocean. WWF works to ensure they can live and thrive in their natural habitat.
What makes gray whales unique?
The gray whale is a baleen whale, having approximately 300 baleen plates which hang from their upper jaw. The baleen plates which are made of keratin, allow them to filter food from surrounding waters. They are unique among large whales in that they feed on the bottom in shallow coastal waters.
How many gray whales are left in the world?
We estimate the eastern North Pacific population to be around 27,000 individuals as of 2016 and fully recovered. Most of the whales spend the summer feeding in the Arctic.
Is it okay to touch a whale?
You could be stressing it out. Swimming with whales or touching them disrupts their natural behavior. Some whales experience less stress or are more used to humans. However it is safest to keep your distance from this marine mammals and never to touch it.
Are gray whales friendly to humans?
With the end of whaling, some Gray Whales have gotten friendly. In the birthing lagoons, some whales have begun to approach small skiffs and allow themselves to be touched by humans, a behavior first reported in 1976.
How is the WWF helping the gray whale?
WWF and partners have been instrumental in strengthening protection for the western North Pacific gray whales. We helped restrict seismic surveys that were shown to displace gray whales from their feeding ground and continue to urge the Russian government to establish a gray whale sanctuary off Sakhalin Island.
What kind of animal is a gray whale?
Gray Whale. Facts. Map data provided by IUCN. Gray whales have a hump and a ridge of sharp bumps along their backs, instead of a dorsal fin. They are a type of baleen whale, which means they filter food from the water through special bristly structures in their mouths. Gray whales stay close to shore and feed in shallow water.
What kind of food does a gray whale eat?
Gray whales have one of the longest annual migrations of any mammal. During summer they live in Arctic regions that are rich in their food. As baleen whales, gray whales eat through filter-feeding by opening their mouth to take in water then pushing the water back out through their baleen while their food remains in their mouth.
Where does a gray whale go on its migration?
Gray whales have one of the longest migrations of any mammal as they travel 14,000 miles round trip each year from lagoons near Baja California all the way up to Arctic waters. Remarkably, gray whale calves make this journey alongside their mothers.