Whale of a Meal | National Geographic

this is one of nature’s most mesmerizing

this is one of nature’s most mesmerizing Nana’s the humpback whale the name

Nana’s the humpback whale the name

Nana’s the humpback whale the name humpback comes from the signature motion

humpback comes from the signature motion

humpback comes from the signature motion makes as its back clears the water

makes as its back clears the water

makes as its back clears the water before a dive

adult humpbacks average between 35 to 50

adult humpbacks average between 35 to 50 feet in length and weigh about a ton per

feet in length and weigh about a ton per

feet in length and weigh about a ton per foot they can live up to 60 years and

foot they can live up to 60 years and

foot they can live up to 60 years and remain underwater on a single breath for

remain underwater on a single breath for

remain underwater on a single breath for up to 30 minutes

an average humpback whale will eat some

an average humpback whale will eat some 2,000 pounds of alaska’s plentiful

2,000 pounds of alaska’s plentiful

2,000 pounds of alaska’s plentiful plankton krill and small schooling fish

plankton krill and small schooling fish

plankton krill and small schooling fish each day during feeding season and each

each day during feeding season and each

each day during feeding season and each year North Pacific humpback whales like

year North Pacific humpback whales like

year North Pacific humpback whales like these make a three thousand mile trek

these make a three thousand mile trek

these make a three thousand mile trek leaving the frigid waters of their

leaving the frigid waters of their

leaving the frigid waters of their Alaskan feeding grounds for the warm

Alaskan feeding grounds for the warm

Alaskan feeding grounds for the warm waters of

they come here to mate and give birth

they come here to mate and give birth living on all that food they ate all

living on all that food they ate all

living on all that food they ate all summer in Alaska here’s a cow and her

summer in Alaska here’s a cow and her

summer in Alaska here’s a cow and her calf breaching or leaping out of the

calf breaching or leaping out of the

calf breaching or leaping out of the water whether it’s for courtship play or

water whether it’s for courtship play or

water whether it’s for courtship play or some other reason scientists aren’t

some other reason scientists aren’t

some other reason scientists aren’t exactly sure why humpbacks breach here’s

exactly sure why humpbacks breach here’s

exactly sure why humpbacks breach here’s a nearby male slapping is 14 foot long

a nearby male slapping is 14 foot long

a nearby male slapping is 14 foot long pectoral fin on the water this is called

pectoral fin on the water this is called

pectoral fin on the water this is called Peck slapping which may be for

Peck slapping which may be for

Peck slapping which may be for communication

communication

communication [Music]

[Music]

[Music] humpbacks also display other fascinating

humpbacks also display other fascinating

humpbacks also display other fascinating behaviors like this tail slap otherwise

behaviors like this tail slap otherwise

behaviors like this tail slap otherwise known as the lob tailing the sled may

known as the lob tailing the sled may

known as the lob tailing the sled may serve as a warning and can be heard

serve as a warning and can be heard

serve as a warning and can be heard underwater for hundreds of feet and the

underwater for hundreds of feet and the

underwater for hundreds of feet and the most fascinating of all the singing only

most fascinating of all the singing only

most fascinating of all the singing only the male’s sing these complex eerie

the male’s sing these complex eerie

the male’s sing these complex eerie exquisite songs and only in Hawaii each

exquisite songs and only in Hawaii each

exquisite songs and only in Hawaii each male starts by singing its own song but

male starts by singing its own song but

male starts by singing its own song but by the end of the season they’re all

by the end of the season they’re all

by the end of the season they’re all singing the same tune come back whales

singing the same tune come back whales

singing the same tune come back whales are an endangered species

are an endangered species

are an endangered species researchers believe they’re about ten to

researchers believe they’re about ten to

researchers believe they’re about ten to twelve thousand humpbacks left in the

twelve thousand humpbacks left in the

twelve thousand humpbacks left in the ocean places like the Hawaiian Islands

ocean places like the Hawaiian Islands

ocean places like the Hawaiian Islands humpback whale National Marine Sanctuary

humpback whale National Marine Sanctuary

humpback whale National Marine Sanctuary have been designated to make sure they

have been designated to make sure they

have been designated to make sure they survive