A humpback whale has ‘stumped’ scientists by magnificently traveling over 8,000 miles throughout three of Earth’s oceans, making it the longest trip by a whale in recorded history.
The whale was reportedly migrating between breeding grounds, and due to the rise in sea temperatures caused by global warming, was unable to find another breeding ground until it had traversed most of the oceanic Earth.
For reference, the circumference of the Earth is only 24,901 miles, meaning that this particular whale crossed 1/3 of the planet. Truly remarkable.
Darren Croft, who is a professor of behavioral ecology at the U.K.’s University of Exeter and director of the Center for Whale Research, told NBC News that, “Changing climatic and ocean conditions could be driving these migrations to new breeding grounds. It may also be a case that increased competition for mates or food is encouraging individuals to seek new opportunities.”
Considering that most whales, if they are truly exceptional, travel around 5,000 miles to migrate, the fact that this particular humpback whale traversed 8,000 miles is incredible.
Climate Change Is Radically Changing Temperatures, Causing Disrupted Migrations
The threat of climate change to human beings is substantial, and could even be described as existential, however, we aren’t the individuals that are feeling the current impact of what we, as a species, have done to the climate.
The creatures really suffering at this point are the animals, who are feeling the full effect of unregulated business and uncaring for our environment.
When we build shopping centers instead of planting trees, animals suffer, and eventually, people will suffer to. This is why climate change has been a chief policy of so many in Washington D.C. that recognize the problem for what it is… a problem.
How Often Do Whales Migrate?
It is said that whales migrate every single year. They typically move from colder water in the beginning of the year into warmer water during the later months of the year.
The warmer water is better suited for producing the conditions in which whales reproduce, and the colder water is better suited for finding food, which the whales store in their massive bodies.
The largest humpback whales weigh up to 50 tons, making them some of the largest animals in the entire world.
Blue whales (not humpback whales) have a maximum confirmed length of up to 98 feet, making them the largest species on Earth.
