World Whale Day
World Whale Day
World Whale Day is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday in February annually. This is the day to appreciate and raise awareness for the magnificent giants of the ocean. Originally started in Hawaii to honor humpback whales, this day is now a worldwide observance to support whales and conservation efforts.
Whale lovers all over the world celebrate World Whale Day each year to honor all the whales that have been killed or are currently struggling to survive. People all over the world celebrate whales on this day with festivals, art contests, educational events, lectures about conservation efforts, and more.
Whale lovers often wear whale watch bands or pins on World Whale Day to show their support and appreciation for these creatures. They also use this day as a time to learn more about whales and how we can help protect them from human impact such as boat strikes, ocean noise pollution, toxic spills, poaching, and net fishing.
Be sure to celebrate the amazing lives of whales by learning all you can about them, and then sharing your knowledge with others.
By celebrating whales on this day, you can help ensure that they will still be around for future generations to enjoy!
All About Whales
Whales are marine mammals that can grow to be up to 60 feet long. They live in the ocean and are divided into two suborders: Baleen Whales, which filter food out of their mouths using baleen plates; and Toothed Whales, which use teeth to hunt for their prey. Whales are hunted commercially today for their meat, blubber, bones and oil, but there is also a growing concern for whales who may be endangered due to human impact on their habitat.
Whales are also known to be very social with one another. They love to swim together, and can often be seen breaching the water in unison. When whales breach, they jump out of the water and land on their backs or sides. This not only looks incredibly cool, but it is also a way for whales to communicate with each other. Whales will even create friendships with humans and form bonds that can last a lifetime.
Whales are an important part of the ecosystem, and they also play an important role in the economy.
Baleen Whales
Baleen whales are a suborder of marine mammals that consist of all the whales that have baleen plates in their mouths. These plates are used to filter food out of the water, and baleen whales can consume large quantities of food this way. There are four species of baleen whale: the bowhead whale, the right whale, the gray whale, and the humpback whale. All four species are considered endangered due to human impact on their habitats.
Toothed Whales
There are two types of toothed whales: the sperm whale and the beaked whale. The sperm whale is the largest toothed whale, and can grow up to 60 feet long. They are black or dark gray in color, and have a large head and a single blowhole. Sperm whales live in all the world's oceans, but prefer warmer climates. They eat fish, squid, and octopus. Beaked whales are much smaller than sperm whales, but are still considered large marine mammals. They have a long snout and teeth that protrude from their lower jaw. Beaked whales mainly eat fish, but they have also been known to eat squid and crustaceans.
How to Celebrate World Whale Day
· Sing "Baby Beluga in the Deep Blue Sea, Swim so Wild and Swim so Free"
· Buy or rent Baby Beluga, by Raffi; A Whale is Not a Fish, by Scott O'Dell; and Herman the Helper, by Carol Ryrie Brink or other favorite whale book.
· Download some whales songs and hum along!
· Do some whale watching. If you can't get to the water, visit a local attraction or find some whale watching videos or apps.
· Learn about the different types of whales and how to protect them.
· Get creative and draw pictures, paint, sculpt, mold, bake and craft anything whale related to share with your family and friends.
· Take some photos of your whale activities and share them on your social sites
· Join in the fun on social media by using the hashtag #WorldWhaleDay !
Go Whale Watching
Whale watching is a popular tourist attraction as people flock to coastal towns to see whales breaching out of the water, tail slapping, and spy hopping (when whales stick their heads out of the water to look around). Whale watching can even become a part of a vacation, as many people are willing to travel long distances just to see these amazing creatures up close.
Whale watching also has another important benefit: it helps raise awareness about whales and how they need our protection. People often travel to coastal areas where they can see whales in the wild, and they come home with a new appreciation for these beautiful marine mammals. They are inspired to share their stories and will even advocate for conservation of whale habitats.
Whales are one of the main attractions at SeaWorld. They are amazing creatures that can grow to be up to 60 feet long, and people love to see them up close. SeaWorld has several different types of whales, including beluga whales, killer whales, and dolphins. Each type of whale has its own unique personality, and the trainers at SeaWorld spend hours getting to know each one.
The whales at SeaWorld are well-treated and well-fed, and they love to perform for their audiences. They often do tricks like jumping out of the water or playing with balls. Some of the whales are even trained to do stunts like riding a bicycle or jumping through hoops. Whales are amazing animals, and SeaWorld is a fun place to learn more about these beautiful creatures in a safe and educational environment.
Whale Facts
· Did you know the blue whale is the largest animal ever known to exist? They can grow up to 100 feet long and weigh as much as 300,000 pounds! And they're not even the loudest whales out there. The sperm whale is actually louder with noises that can reach 188 decibels - a measurement of loudness. That is louder than a rocket launch!
· Did you know that whales can communicate with each other from one side of the world to the other? Their high-pitched sounds travel through the water and bounce off objects, creating an echo map of their surroundings. Scientists have even been able to identify different types of whales based on the unique sounds they make.
· The blue whale can drink as much as 50,000 gallons of water and eat up to 8,000 pounds of krill every day! They only eat about one hour a day because it takes so long for their enormous bodies to process all that food.
· Whales use their tails, called flukes , to propel themselves through the water as they swim.
· Whales may look like they're relaxing as they float around on top of the water, but some species can actually swim up to 20 miles per hour!
· There are two types of whales: Baleen and Toothed.
· Baleen Whales have a special kind of filter in their mouths that strain the water they take in for food. They mainly eat plankton, but some species also eat fish and squid. Did you know that blue whales are actually considered to be the loudest animals on earth? Their hearts can beat as fast as a human's and they can breathe through their blowholes at the top of their heads.
· Toothed whales, like dolphins and orcas , use echolocation to navigate and find prey (i.e., fish, squid, and other marine mammals). They also live in pods like other mammals such as elephants or wolves.
· The Orca is actually related to dolphins and is not a whale. It got the name "killer whale" from sailors long ago.
· The blue whale heart can weigh as much as an average person and is about the same size as a Volkswagen Beetle!
· Did you know that whales sleep with one side of their brain at a time, just like humans?
· Whale milk is 50 percent fat! A baby whale drinks around 230 gallons of it every day.
· Some whales can hold their breath under water for as long as 30 minutes! That's three times longer than the longest human swimmer on record!
How World Whale Day Unites People
The love of whales and the desire to protect these amazing creatures brings people together in a united cause. Spread the word, find others who share your passion for whales, and create fun activities to do with others.
