Once Known as ‘Devil Fish,’ Gray Whales Are Now Among the Ocean’s Gentlest Giants

Amaze Lab

In most countries around the world whaling is illegal, but that wasn’t always the case. Gray whales in particular were hunted to near extinction and they were also known to be some of the fiercest fighters after being harpooned. Even earning themselves the moniker “devil fish,” by those who hunted them.

Transcript

00:00in most countries around the world whaling is illegal but that wasn't always the case according

00:09to insider gray whales in particular were hunted to near extinction and they were also known to be

00:13some of the fiercest fighters after being harpooned even earning themselves the moniker devil fish by

00:19those who hunted them now things have changed and gray whales are known not just as docile creatures

00:23but ones that will saddle up right next to boats and let people touch them a far cry from devil

00:28fish and a quick change since commercial whaling was only just banned in 1986 so why have they become

00:33more friendly in such a short time well that's still a mystery however those who spend the most

00:37time around them say they act differently in the lagoons of mexico's baja peninsula that's where

00:42the marine mammals spend the winter months and where they give birth and when they begin their

00:46annual 10 000 mile migration the longest of any mammal in the world they become far less friendly

00:51as they travel up towards alaska however marine experts say they suspect it all has to do with

00:55priorities as when the animals are traveling north they're fasting and forced to forage for food

01:00meaning they might not have the luxury of succumbing to their curiosities and interacting with people

01:05and boats

01:11you

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended