Scientists have a new idea about why we rarely see baby blue whales. Dr. Trevor Branch says that these baby whales, born in fall and winter, are not seen often during summer research trips by the coast of California.
Baby blue whales are not seen because researchers look at the wrong time of year.
The study says that only 3.1% of the times whales are spotted, we see them with their mothers. Researchers think this is not because whales don’t have babies, but because the time they look and when babies are born don’t match.
Research in summer areas explains why we don’t see baby blue whales and their moms. Dr. Branch
The scientists collected a lot of old and new data about whale sightings. This helps explain why we rarely see baby whales. This idea could help us do better research in the future.
Blue whales can be very long, up to 29.9 meters, and there are between 10,000 and 30,000 of them. This shows that dangers like ships and climate change are big problems, so we must act quickly to protect them.
Conclusion
Recap of Key Points: Scientists are discovering that baby blue whales are often hidden from view because they are born in fall and winter. Research shows that only 3.1% of sightings include these babies with their moms.
Final Thoughts: It seems like timing is everything! If researchers look for babies at the right time, they might see them more often!
Call to Action: Curious about these amazing animals? Join the effort to learn more about blue whales and help protect them!
