All animal species around the world, whether large or small, deserve to be treated equally. Starting from the smallest actions, we humans can create significant changes, contributing to the conservation of species on Earth.
Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is a giant mammal that can grow over 20 meters long, living in the depths of the ocean. Typically, males measure around 18 meters and weigh 54 tons, while females reach about 12 meters and weigh 17 tons. They have a narrow lower jaw that contains all their teeth. The teeth of sperm whales are conical and can measure up to 20 cm in length and weigh 1 kg each. Thus, they are classified by scientists as the largest toothed predators in the world.
Sperm whales belong to the order Cetacea, suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales). Although their bodies are not as massive as many of their relatives, sperm whales are easily recognizable due to their enormous heads and prominent foreheads.
Sperm whales have extremely prominent heads.
The head of a sperm whale accounts for about one-third of its total body length, and this feature has made it the animal with the largest brain ever to exist on the planet (including extinct species). Researchers indicate that a sperm whale’s brain can weigh up to 8 kg, five times heavier than an average human brain.
Perhaps it is due to their large brains that sperm whales have learned to use their intelligence to seek help from humans in dire situations, as illustrated in the story below.
The main character in this story is Hugues Vitry, a renowned environmentalist and photographer from the Republic of Mauritius.
Sperm whale teeth are conical and can be up to 20 cm long, weighing 1 kg each.
During his ocean trip, a sperm whale unexpectedly approached him, seemingly wanting to convey something important. With his extensive seafaring experience and having once rescued a whale from entanglement in ropes, Vitry immediately understood the message from the sperm whale.
As the whale swam alongside him, Vitry directed his camera to capture what the whale was trying to communicate.
After a while, the massive sperm whale turned its body to one side and opened its mouth, indicating that something foreign was causing it great discomfort. According to the diver’s observation, a hook had become lodged in the whale’s teeth, causing it injury and bleeding. With the sperm whale’s enormous size, it could accomplish many “great” feats; however, in the face of such a potentially fatal injury, it would certainly require assistance from outside to resolve the issue.
After removing the hook from its mouth, Vitry felt a bit scared as the sperm whale continued to linger. To reassure the whale, he embraced and patted it, communicating that everything was okay. At that moment, the massive creature seemed to relax and responded to him with gestures of gratitude in its own unique way.
