All around us, a deep blue stretches as far as the eye can see. The water envelops us. We float, as if in weightlessness. The sun-dappled surface is just a few meters above our heads. We are swimming off the coast of Hawaii. Here, millions of years ago, volcanoes gave birth to a constellation of islands. Since then, a terrestrial and marine paradise, with stunning landscapes, stands in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. It is in these tropical waters that we will encounter one of the most imposing and intelligent animals on our planet. Listen! Its melodious song vibrates to us.
The humpback whale migrates with each change of season
We see shadows. And then the outlines of their silhouette become clearer. They are approaching… they are here! They are humpback whales! They have not stolen their reputation as giants of the seas! These whales measure an average of 15 meters and weigh 30 tons (that’s 30,000 kilograms!). That’s more than several adult elephants combined! Despite their massive bodies, they swim with grace and ease, tranquil, it looks like they are dancing. Next to them, we humans are so small, almost tiny. It’s dizzying!
Winter has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere of our planet. That’s why the humpback whales are here. Every year, they migrate, from the cold and rich waters of Alaska that nourish them all summer, to here – to the warm and welcoming waters of the Hawaiian coast. Here, they can give birth to their calves, find a partner, and take care of their whale calves. Making this journey, from Alaska to Hawaii, is a real feat. A feat that thousands of humpback whales around the world accomplish with the changing seasons: they leave the South and North poles for waters more conducive to the birth of their calves and reproduction. Covering 16,000 kilometers each year, humpback whales are fantastic migrators.
When Hawaii turns into a nursery
Off the coast of Hawaii, more than 10,000 whales gather year after year. The group surrounding us consists of about ten individuals. The first to arrive are the females, with their calves. Last year, their calves were born right here. They stay close to them, call out to them, brush against them. They have a lot to teach them. Other whales in the group have just given birth. Look, it’s a rare sight, one of them is nursing! The calf, firmly attached to its mother’s belly, suckles its milk. A milk rich in proteins and fats that willGrowing, even if barely born, it already measures several meters and weighs several hundred kilos. The whale songs we hear are not from mothers and their calves, but from the males. These enchanting, complex songs can last from a few minutes to several hours! Humpback whales migrate annually, leaving behind rich feeding grounds, but also orcas, their predators, who target their calves. Even whales have predators! Orcas and sharks often attack them, but in these tropical and shallow waters, they are safe. Let’s take a closer look at humpback whales. Their dark bodies with a dark blue, gray, almost black back and white, grooved throat called “throat grooves.” On their chin, small flesh balls house crustaceans called barnacles. Their large pectoral fins, one-third of their size, are distinctive and have given them their scientific name, Megaptera novaeangliae, meaning “large wings of New England.” These fins provide agility while a short dorsal fin overlooks their massive body. The whale’s tail is formed by a caudal fin unique to each individual, allowing scientists to recognize and track them. Despite its name, humpback whales don’t actually have a hump, just a small lump of fat under their dorsal fin. Their diving behavior, headfirst with a rounded back, creates the illusion of a hump. Humpback whales are marine mammals belonging to the cetacean family. They are part of the baleen whale group.baleines à fanons ; elle n’a pas de dents ! À la place, son sourire arbore de grandes lames poilues accrochées à sa mâchoire supérieure. Ce sont ça, les fanons. Regarde, on les voit distinctement lorsqu’elle ouvre la gueule. Les fanons sont faits de kératinekératine, comme tes onglesongles ou tes cheveux. Et ils sont très utiles à la baleine car ils forment un filtre. Quand la baleine à bosse veut se nourrir, elle ouvre la bouche, aspire une immense quantité d’eau (l’équivalent de plusieurs piscines !), et au lieu d’avaler cette eau, elle la pousse avec sa langue à travers ses fanons. Résultat, ces grandes tiges souples laissent passer l’eau mais retiennent les crustacés, les harengs, les maquereaux et le krillkrill qui finiront au fond de son estomacestomac. C’est malin, surtout quand on sait que cette technique lui permet d’engloutir plus d’une tonne de nourriture par jour !
Un mâle approche. Les baleines mâles sont plutôt solitaires, mais elles se joignent aux femelles durant les périodes d’hiver. Les baleines à bosse vivent en petits groupes, constitués de femelles et de leurs petits, sous la direction d’une matriarche, une femelle qui assure le rôle de chef. Regarde, c’est celle qui a une grande balafre le long de son flanc. Certainement le vestige d’un combat acharné contre une orque pour défendre les petits du groupe.
La baleine participe de la bonne santé des océans
Partout sur la planète, la baleine à bosse est connue pour ses sauts spectaculaires. Elle bondit hors de l’eau, de tout son corps gigantesque, et retombe dans un fracas majestueux à la surface des océans. Elle frappe aussi la surface de ses nageoires ou constelle l’horizon de son souffle puissant. Regarde, elle remonte régulièrement à la surface pour respirer. Car chez la baleine la respiration n’est pas un réflexe, elle doit y réfléchir, et remonter pour respirer à temps, car elle ne tient en apnéeapnée qu’une vingtaine de minutes environ. Aujourd’hui la population de baleines à bosse se porteporte bien. Mais pendant des décennies, cette reine des océans a été, comme les autres baleines, victime d’une chasse intensive. Chasse qui perdure malheureusement, bien que l’espèceespèce soit aujourd’hui protégée. Sa protection a toutefois permis de voir le nombre de baleines à bosse augmenter et c’est une excellente nouvelle pour l’ensemble de la planète. Car chaque baleine est un élément essentiel à l’équilibre de la vie sur TerreTerre.By consuming large quantities of plankton, whales help store carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Did you know that to create the sound of the T. rex in Jurassic Park, sound designer Gary Rydstrom and his team combined the breath of a whale, the roar of a lion, the snarl of an alligator, and the trumpet of a baby elephant!
Throughout its life, a whale absorbs as much carbon dioxide as 1,000 trees combined in a year. Its excrement plays a crucial role in fertilizing the oceans and contributing to the growth of other species, such as phytoplankton, which absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere. The humpback whale contributes to the health of the oceans and is our ally in the fight against climate change.
It is essential to continue protecting these majestic and intelligent animals, from which we still have much to learn. In a few months, the whales frolicking in the waters of Hawaii will head back to the North to reach Alaska. Mothers will pass on their knowledge of migratory routes and food-rich waters to their young, as their mothers did before them. Take a moment to admire them peacefully floating beneath the surface with their gentle, slow movements and sun-spotted dark skin. We may be leaving them now, but their magic will stay with us.
Humpback whales are among the most studied cetaceans in the world due to their playful, mischievous, and highly intelligent nature. They have developed a spectacular hunting technique to target certain schools of fish.Baleen whales are skilled hunters when it comes to catching fish. During a hunt, one whale takes the lead by diving under a school of fish and blowing bubbles through its blowhole. The bubbles confuse the fish, disorienting them. As the other whales in the group join in and blow bubbles as well, they create a magnificent circle not far from the surface. The fish, trapped by the bubble “net,” are then easily captured by the whales as they rise with their mouths wide open.
This impressive hunting technique requires coordination, reflection, and anticipation, showcasing a high level of intelligence in humpback whales. These whales also demonstrate their intelligence when they band together to fend off orcas attacking a seal or another prey. They have been observed acting as saviors to animals in distress, almost like sea guardians.
Humpback whales are known for their excellent communication skills. Their majestic breaches are not just displays or play but a means of communication. By slapping their bodies and fins against the water’s surface, the whales communicate with distant groups during bad weather when their voices may not carry over the noise of the wind or storms. The clapping of their fins is used for intra-group communication, like welcoming a newcomer. Humpback whales use various sounds to communicate, such as cries, groans, and snorts, known as vocalizations.
Among all the sounds humpback whales produce, their songs are the most captivating for researchers. Humpback whale songs are the most intricate of all cetaceans. Male whales sing these complex songs during migration and mating seasons. The songs consist of multiple patterns and phrases that repeat and intertwine. Scientists believe these songs are used for attracting mates or deterring rivals. Interestingly, researchers have observed whales from different groups singing the same song, suggesting a form of cultural exchange among whale populations.A song could be transmitted from island to island, to whales that are very far apart from each other. Sometimes, this transmission only involves a small passage that a whale will appreciate, imitate, and integrate into its own song. But other times, the transmission is so quick that it’s considered a revolution! From one season to another, neighboring whales somehow pass on their “summer tube”. This transmission, known as horizontal transmission (because it occurs among adults), is actually a cultural transmission: it proves that whales listen to each other, imitate each other, draw inspiration from each other, and learn from each other!
Soon able to communicate with humans?
Sometimes, humpback whales even respond to us, humans! This is what happened with Twain, a 38-year-old humpback whale living off the coast of Alaska, just like the whales we observed earlier. Twain was swimming peacefully with her group when scientists played some whale sounds they had recorded underwater. Upon hearing these sounds, Twain swam straight towards the boat, and then she responded to the researchers by making vocalizations too! The ensuing “conversation” lasted for 30 minutes! And let me tell you right away, the scientists were a bit caught off guard. Yes, it’s not easy to improvise in whale language!
Actually, it’s too early to know if we, humans, will ever be able to have a real conversation with these fascinating animals, but they seem quite ready to chat with us. And maybe, through a conversation, these tranquil, clever, and vital giants of the seas for our planet’s balance could impart some of their wisdom to us and perhaps even teach us to sing like them!