Watching a whale in its natural environment is a powerful experience. Many different species of whale thrive in the cold waters of Svalbard and this year's season has offered many spectacular encounters. During our latest expedition with M/S Stockholm, the expedition members had the pleasure of seeing several whales, including humpback whales. The humpback whale is curious and relatively fearless, which means it can often get close. The fact that it likes to jump also gives you a chance to see the whole whale, not just the part of its back that is often visible at the surface. In addition, it has several other special characteristics. Here are some fun facts about the humpback.
High jumps
The humpback whale is known for its high jumps, often bringing its entire large body above the water's surface. It is an impressive sight. When it falls back, it does so with a huge splash, sending signals to other humpbacks.
Sings
Another characteristic of the humpback whale is that it sings. This usually happens during the mating season, so one theory is that males sing to attract females. All male whales in the same population sing the same song and it is gradually built up with new phrases. Researchers have also seen evidence of local songs "migrating" to other parts of the world and being picked up by other populations, making it even more complex.
Impressive size
A humpback whale can grow up to 16 meters long and weigh between 25 and 40 tons. Males are slightly smaller than females. A newborn calf is about 5 meters long and weighs about 1 ton. The pectoral fins, which are white underneath, can be up to 6 meters long and stick up like giant paddles as the whale rolls around.
Why it is called a humpback whale
The name humpback whale comes from the small bumps located on the head, pectoral fins and lower jaw. The bumps are transformed hair follicles that are often covered with barnacles. There is a large hump on the back, hence the name humpback whale.
Filtering the food
The humpback whale belongs to the baleen whale species, which means it has a baleen instead of teeth. It is a comb-like organ used to filter food such as krill and small fish from the water. The humpback whale has a relatively small esophagus and cannot chew as it has no teeth. This means that it cannot eat any larger fish.
Only eats during half the year
The humpback whale only eats during half the year. The rest of the year it lives on its own fat reserves. During the bright summer months, it moves to the far north or south to feed, and during the winter it moves to warmer waters around the equator.
Special hunting method
Humpback whales use a special hunting method that involves circling their prey while blowing out air. In this way, they form a so-called 'bubble net'. This means that schools of fish are trapped in a net of bubbles and cannot escape. The whales then swim upwards in the bubble circle with their mouths open, consuming lots of fish at the same time.
Long-distance swimmers
The humpback whale is a real long-distance swimmer, moving between the colder waters at the poles in summer and the more tropical ones closer to the equator in winter. In one year, it can swim up to 16 000 kilometers.
Feeding their calves in tropical seas
During the winter months, humpback whales move to warmer waters around the equator to mate and give birth. Here there are no dangerous predators, like the orcas that live in colder waters, which makes it safer. While the female stays at the equator with her calf, she doesn't eat anything but lives on her fat reserves. The calf, which is around 5 meters long when it is born, feeds on its mother's fat milk and eats almost all the time.
Forming friendships
Humpback whales live in loose groups, but it has been shown that females form friendships with each other. They forage together and then continue to find their way back to the same individuals year after year.
Please note: Depending on the lens used for a photo or video shot an animal may appear to be closer than it is. We always follow strict wildlife guidelines to ensure that we do not cause any disturbance.