Three blue whales were caught in a battle for mating rights off the coast of Port Macdonnell, located in southern Australia.
Two male whales chased and collided with each other in a fierce competition to attract a female. This rare behavior was documented by members of the Blue Whale Study research program in a recent aerial survey, as reported by Newsweek on April 4.
A female whale attempts to escape the pursuit of two males. (Photo: Blue Whale Study).
During the survey, we observed three blue whales engaging in the chase, with one adult female being pursued by two potential mates at high speed. This was confirmed by researchers in Canada, according to the Blue Whale Study. The phenomenon had only been observed once before in the area, in 2003. The region features the Bonney Upwelling, where cold nutrient-rich waters rise to the ocean surface during summer months, bringing with them a wealth of plankton that attracts whales.
“The female whale frequently changed speed and direction while the two males tried their best to keep up, also attempting to outmaneuver each other. It was a magnificent display of power. We circled around for about 15 minutes before leaving them to continue their race,” the research team stated.
The blue whale is the largest animal to have ever existed on Earth, reaching lengths of over 30 meters and weighing up to 200 tons. Their hearts alone can weigh as much as a car. Blue whales are filter feeders, primarily consuming krill and plankton. They gulp massive amounts of water and then use their baleen plates to filter out the small organisms. This species was heavily hunted throughout the 20th century, leading to a significant decline in their population. They are currently listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. Blue whales likely swim from their feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean to breeding areas off the coast of Indonesia, pairing up in preparation for the mating season. Whales are capable of moving at extremely high speeds during chases, and males can easily collide with each other while pursuing a female. |
