See the Atlantic humpback whale’s one-of-a-kind hunting techniques in action.
In this clip, you’ll watch two humpback whales engaging in bubble-blowing and circling in pursuit of a meal. Isn’t it incredible?
You may be wondering, “Why do they blow bubbles?” This aids in capturing the prey before one approaches from below.
This incredible footage was shot in the frigid waters of southern Alaska using drones, cameras, and sensors mounted on the whales.
Take a look at these incredible beasts as they hunt among a school of fish. And look at the net they’re making with bubbles!
Once the school of fish is trapped in the whales’ stomachs, they feast.
We are seeing these animals manipulate and prepare their prey for capture, and it’s very amazing to watch. Lars Bejade, director of the UH Manoa Marine mammal research programme (MMRP), said, “It is allowing us to gain new insights that we really haven’t been able to do before.”
If you look closely, you can see that the humpback whales in the artwork are using bubble nets to catch prey.
We usually see around 3,000 whales in Alaska throughout the summer, and this next winter, 10,000 are expected to make their way to Hawaii.
Scientists are now hoping to use this film to better understand the impacts of climate change and prey depletion on animal habitats and diets.
