{"id":11073,"date":"2022-06-03T16:58:43","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T15:58:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=11073"},"modified":"2024-02-18T14:16:15","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T14:16:15","slug":"whale-facts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/whale-facts\/","title":{"rendered":"27 Astonishing Whale Facts &#038; Stats to Be Aware of in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whales are the largest mammals on earth, and they don\u2019t have many natural predators. However, they still aren\u2019t safe. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show us that these gentle giants could be wiped out by indiscriminate fishing and habitat loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hopefully, by the end of this article, you\u2019ll know enough to want to protect these creatures as much as we do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, get ready to learn more <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cool whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> than you can shake a stick at!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='the-top-10-whale-facts'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Top 10 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whale Facts<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sei whales can reach speeds of up to <a href=\"#34 miles per hour\">34 miles per hour<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bowhead whales can live to be <a href=\"#over 200 years old\">over 200 years old<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fin whales can breed with blue whales, producing a <a href=\"#hybrid fin-blue whale\">hybrid fin-blue whale<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#Beluga whales\">Beluga whales<\/a> can live in both salt and freshwater.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sperm whale\u2019s brain can weigh <a href=\"#up to 20 pounds\">up to 20 pounds<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nursing blue whales produce <a href=\"#50 gallons of milk per day\">50 gallons of milk per day<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#Narwhal tusk\">Narwhal tusk<\/a> facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reveal their \u201ctusks\u201d are actually teeth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Narwhals can dive over <a href=\"#a mile deep when hunting\">a mile deep when hunting<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#Baleen whales\">Baleen whales<\/a>\u00a0do not echolocate, but toothed whales do.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A blue whale\u2019s penis is around <a href=\"#8 feet long\">8 feet long<\/a> on average.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id='random-whale-facts%c2%a0'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Random Whale Facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whales are a vital representative of the order Cetacea. They\u2019re some of the most fascinating animals on earth, with ancestry that connects them more to hippos than other marine animals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this section, we\u2019ll explore details about a few subspecies of whales.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='1-according-to-sperm-whale-facts-it-was-named-after-spermaceti-which-whalers-thought-was-its-semen'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. According to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sperm whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it was named after spermaceti, which whalers thought was its semen.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Britannica)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s not, as some think, a result of their visual similarity to sperm cells.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sperm whales have an organ in their head filled with fluid called spermaceti. Spermaceti was a key commodity of the whaling industry, but we now know it has nothing to do with the animal\u2019s reproductive system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='2-humpback-whale-facts-reveal-their-flippers-can-grow-to-an-astonishing-16-feet-in-length'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Humpback whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reveal their flippers can grow to an astonishing 16 feet in length.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(National Geographic)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While they\u2019re not the biggest whales, their flippers sure are. Humpback whale flippers can grow to be a third of the whale\u2019s total length.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That also makes humpback whale flippers the largest appendage in the animal kingdom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='3-according-to-beluga-whale-facts-they-have-a-gestation-period-of-14-months'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. According to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">beluga whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, they have a gestation period of 14 months!<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Animal Diversity Web)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beluga whales are a critically endangered species. Part of that is a result of their slow reproduction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beluga moms only have babies every two to three years and stop reproducing in their twenties. Moreover, they spend 20\u201324 months nursing their young.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='4-bowhead-whales-as-facts-suggest-can-live-to-be-over-200-years-old-%c2%a0'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bowhead whales<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> suggest, can live to be over 200 years old.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(NOAA)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bowhead whales may very well hold the title of the longest-living mammals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A harpoon found in a bowhead whale in 2007 was dated to 1890, which means the animal was over 125 years old when Eskimo hunters killed it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re not sure how old the oldest bowhead whale ever was, but recent studies indicate they could easily live past the age of 200.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='5-although-treated-as-whales-pilot-whale-facts-show-they%e2%80%99re-actually-dolphins-%c2%a0'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Although treated as whales, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pilot whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show they\u2019re actually dolphins.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(New Zealand DOC)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pilot whales are a matriarchal species, with some females leading pods of hundreds of animals. The name comes from their propensity for following a single leading female\u2014the \u201cpilot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, they\u2019re very prone to stranding for reasons that are still not entirely clear. The largest such event saw over 1,000 animals stranded at the Chatham Islands.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='6-gray-whale-facts-about-migratory-patterns-reveal-these-animals-take-12430-mile-round-trips-%c2%a0'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gray whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about migratory patterns reveal these animals take 12,430-mile round trips.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(National Geographic)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like most whales, gray whales are prolific migrators. But these fantastic animals take migration to extremes, navigating from Alaskan waters all the way to the Mexican coast and back during migrations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='7-sei-whales-can-reach-speeds-of-over-34-miles-per-hour-%c2%a0'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Sei whales can reach speeds of over 34 miles per hour.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(NOAA, Britannica)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sei whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> indicate they are faster than fin whales, but only in very short bursts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This makes them the fastest whales. Unfortunately, they\u2019re also notoriously hard to identify at sea, making species surveys difficult.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='8-fin-whales-can-breed-with-blue-whales-producing-a-hybrid-fin-blue-whale'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. Fin whales can breed with blue whales, producing a hybrid fin-blue whale.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Whales Online)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re looking for some <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weird whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, this is one of the strangest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fin whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show them to be second in size only to blue whales, and researchers have confirmed that they can interbreed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientists thought the hybrid fin-blue whales were infertile until genetic testing recently identified an animal with a fin whale dad and a hybrid mom. Whether male hybrids can produce offspring is still unclear.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='9-a-sperm-whale%e2%80%99s-brain-can-weigh-up-to-20-pounds'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. A sperm whale\u2019s brain can weigh up to 20 pounds.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(AMNH)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cool facts about whales<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have to do with their staggering size, so it should come as no surprise that a whale has the biggest brain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But despite having such a large brain, sperm whales don\u2019t have the largest brain relative to body size, even among cetaceans \u2014 dolphins trump them in that department.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='10-sperm-whale-%e2%80%9cpoop%e2%80%9d-can-be-worth-up-to-10000-per-pound-%c2%a0'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. Sperm whale \u201cpoop\u201d can be worth up to $10,000 per pound.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(CNN, ABC News, NHM UK)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ambergris is a scarce substance resulting from sperm whales\u2019 indigestion. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Facts about<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> these <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">whales<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> still show it\u2019s among the most valuable naturally occurring substances.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientists all agree it comes from sperm whales, but there\u2019s some disagreement about where exactly. It\u2019s often thought to be whale vomit, but at least one expert disagrees, saying it \u201ccomes from the same place as poop.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='11-only-two-spade-toothed-beaked-whales-have-been-seen-in-the-last-150-years'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11. Only two spade-toothed beaked whales have been seen in the last 150 years.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Cell, National Geographic)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The spade-toothed <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">whale, facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show, is the rarest of all whales. Researchers aren\u2019t even sure that any living animals remain of the species.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first time they were seen alive was in 2010, beached in New Zealand. Unfortunately, the two whales died by the time members of the Department of Conservation arrived at the scene.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='12-beluga-whales-can-live-in-both-salt-and-freshwater'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12. Beluga whales can live in both salt and freshwater.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(NOAA)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many species of whale migrate to waters with various levels of salinity. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interesting facts about beluga whales<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include their ability to adapt to life in freshwater for long periods.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Few whale species can match the same level of adaptability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='13-north-atlantic-right-whale-facts-reveal-they-are-about-three-feet-shorter-on-average-than-they-were-in-1981'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Atlantic right whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reveal they are about three feet shorter on average than they were in 1981.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Smithsonian Magazine)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Atlantic right whales are shrinking categorically as a species. Researchers used aerial photography to track how individual whales changed over the years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientists blame commercial fishing for the reduced size. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/overfishing-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commercial fishing produced over 94 million tons of fish in 2018<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the whales often get stuck in the vast amounts of equipment used to fish, affecting their feeding and growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='blue-whale-facts-novelties-and-oddities'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blue Whale Facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Novelties, and Oddities<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you probably already know, blue whales are the largest animals on the planet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But there\u2019s probably a whole lot you don\u2019t know about these larger-than-life creatures. Let\u2019s see if we can change that with these facts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='14-blue-whales-can-grow-to-be-over-100-feet-long-and-weigh-as-much-as-40-elephants'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14. Blue whales can grow to be over 100 feet long and weigh as much as 40 elephants.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF, BBC)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s start off our <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">facts about blue whales<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by tackling their mammoth size. These titans of the ocean can grow to be as long as 100 feet!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even a newborn blue whale can weigh almost 6,000 pounds. As far as biologists can tell, the blue whale is the largest animal ever to have graced our planet, including dinosaurs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='15-the-blue-whale-is-one-of-the-loudest-animals-in-the-world-with-vocalizations-of-over-188-decibels'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15. The blue whale is one of the loudest animals in the world, with vocalizations of over 188 decibels.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Science Focus)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blue whale fun facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include their ability to blow out your eardrums underwater from how loud they can be. But their loudness has to do with how we perceive sound.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sperm whales communicate with high-frequency clicks that we can barely hear, but they easily reach 230 decibels or more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='16-nursing-blue-whales-produce-50-gallons-of-milk-per-day'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16. Nursing blue whales produce 50 gallons of milk per day.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(National Geographic)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Biologists are still learning a lot about <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">blue whales<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">interesting facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about them show that they\u2019re excellent mothers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They nurse their young for five to seven months after they\u2019re born. During that time, infant blue whales can gain up to 200 pounds a day.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='17-a-blue-whale%e2%80%99s-penis-is-around-8-feet-long-on-average'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17. A blue whale\u2019s penis is around 8 feet long on average.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Whales Online)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blue <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">whale penis facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> unsurprisingly show they\u2019re the most well-endowed in the animal kingdom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They complement their sizable members with testicles that can grow to weigh up to 150 pounds.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='facts-about-the-narwhal-%e2%80%94-a-real-life-unicorn'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Facts About The Narwhal<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 A Real-life Unicorn<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first time you heard about narwhals, you might have thought someone was pranking you. And yet, these magnificent animals are anything but fantasy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/animals-in-captivity-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cetaceans handle captivity poorly<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">due partly to inadequate swimming space and lack of social interaction, and so far, all attempts to keep narwhals captive have resulted in their death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That means most people will never see a narwhal up close, making them even more intriguing. Let\u2019s take a look at some other little-known facts about them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='18-narwhal-tusk-facts-reveal-their-%e2%80%9ctusks%e2%80%9d-are-actually-teeth-%c2%a0'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Narwhal tusk facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reveal their \u201ctusks\u201d are actually teeth.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Ocean Conservancy)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Narwhals are toothed whales, but only because of their tusks. The tusk is actually a tooth with millions of nerve endings, and some narwhals may even have two of them. It\u2019s mainly males that have a tusk, but some females grow it too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They never grow chewing teeth, though \u2014 they swallow prey whole.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='19-narwhals-can-dive-over-a-mile-deep-when-hunting'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">19. Narwhals can dive over a mile deep when hunting.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(NCBI)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to feeding, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">narwhal whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that they spend about two-thirds of their time searching for prey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Narwhal feeding usually occurs during deep dives of over 1,000 feet underwater. However, they\u2019ve been recorded diving much deeper.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='20-innuit-communities-are-allowed-to-hunt-narwhals'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20. Innuit communities are allowed to hunt narwhals.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Smithsonian, NOAA)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Facts about narwhals<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and their taxonomy place them under the shelter of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. However, authorities grant Innuit people a special exemption to hunt them as a result of their historical reliance on the animals and sustainable hunting practices.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='21-medieval-europeans-believed-narwhal-tusks-were-magical'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">21. Medieval Europeans believed narwhal tusks were magical.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(The Met)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">interesting facts about narwhals<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, their tusks, and the superstitions surrounding them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Owing mainly to the myth of the unicorn, wealthy Europeans in the middle ages paid vast sums of money to own narwhal tusks. Many believed narwhal ivory was a unicorn horn and used it as a cure-all.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='22-narwhal-habitat-facts-indicate-they-spend-up-to-five-months-under-the-ice-only-coming-up-briefly-for-air'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Narwhal habitat facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> indicate they spend up to five months under the ice, only coming up briefly for air.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While many Arctic whale species migrate to warmer waters for part of the year, narwhals don\u2019t. Instead, they spend their entire lives in the Arctic.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='23-a-narwhal%e2%80%99s-tusk-can-bend-about-a-foot-at-the-tip-before-breaking'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23. A narwhal\u2019s tusk can bend about a foot at the tip before breaking.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Ocean Conservancy)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fun facts about narwhals<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and their unique tusks never fail to fascinate. Although it seems stiff from afar, the tusk is quite flexible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its structure is the opposite of a human tooth. Instead of having a soft inner structure with a hard outside layer like our teeth, narwhal tusks have a soft, nerve-rich outside with a hard inner core.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='baleen-whale-and-toothed-whale-facts'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baleen Whale and Toothed <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whale Facts<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baleen whales are named so after the keratinous plates they have instead of teeth. Here are some ways in which they differ from toothed whales.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='24-baleen-whales-eat-mainly-krill-and-they-do-so-through-filtration'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">24. Baleen whales eat mainly krill, and they do so through filtration.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(National History Museum)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often-cited <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">baleen whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have to do with the animal\u2019s diet. It seems strange that the largest animals on earth feed on some of the smallest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To eat, baleen whales allow water to pass through their bristly baleen plates and capture tiny crustaceans called krill. Blue whales can eat up to four tons of krill per day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='25-the-largest-baleen-whale-has-a-throat-diameter-of-only-4%e2%80%938-inches'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25. The largest baleen whale has a throat diameter of only 4\u20138 inches.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(NOYO Center, National Geographic)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baleen whales, facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tell us, couldn\u2019t eat humans even if they wanted to. Since they eat such small prey, they have correspondingly small throats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only whale that might be able to eat a human is the sperm whale, a toothed whale. But no such incident has ever happened.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='26-baleen-whales-do-not-echolocate-but-toothed-whales-do'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">26. Baleen whales do not echolocate, but toothed whales do.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Australian DAWE)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because they hunt marine mammals, fish, and squid, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">toothed whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that all the species in that group echolocate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As filtration feeders, baleen whales don\u2019t have the need or the ability to echolocate. Instead, baleen whales use sounds only to communicate with other whales.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='27-whale-statistics-show-there-are-only-15-types-of-baleen-whales-that-we-know-of'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">27. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whale statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show there are only 15 types of baleen whales that we know of.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Whale and Dolphin Conservation)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many more kinds of toothed whales than their filtration-feeding cousins. According to whale stats, biologists know of 76 species of toothed whales and only 15 baleen whales.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='faq'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQ<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id='do-whales-sleep'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do whales sleep?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Scientific American)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like all mammals, whales need to sleep. But they still need to breathe consciously, so biologists compare what whales do to brief napping rather than sleeping.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whales rest by either staying motionless in the water, either horizontally or vertically \u2014 or by slowly swimming alongside other whales.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='why-are-whales-endangered'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why are whales endangered?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not all whale species are currently endangered, but those that do share many of the same threats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whaling, although mostly outlawed, devastated whale populations that still haven\u2019t recovered.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Facts about whales<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that climate change is leading to losses in, both, their habitats and their food sources.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/water-pollution-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">100,000 marine mammals die every year as a result of plastic pollution<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including whales.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commercial fishing gear and food source depletion from commercial fishing.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id='how-many-whales-are-killed-each-year'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How many whales are killed each year?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whaling is still a concern, but only around 1,000 animals are hunted each year by commercial fishing boats from Iceland, Japan, and Norway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, shipping, commercial fishing bycatch, and habitat loss lead to the deaths of over 300,000 whales and other marine mammals annually.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='does-a-whale-have-teeth'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does a whale have teeth?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WDC)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some whales have teeth, and they\u2019re appropriately named toothed whales. Baleen whales, on the other hand, don\u2019t have teeth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, baleen whales have plates in their mouth made of the same substance that\u2019s in our hair. These hairy plates act as filters to capture tiny crustaceans the whales feed on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toothed whales feed on squid, sharks, and other fish.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='how-many-whales-are-left-in-the-world-in-2022'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How many whales are left in the world in 2022?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(IWC, BBC, USA Today)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Across all species of whales, there are hundreds of thousands of animals left.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, some species are much less represented than others. For instance, researchers estimate only about 25,000 blue whales are left.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are around 85,000 fin whales with unsurveyed populations in the Southern hemisphere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Humpback whales have made a substantial recovery, with around 150,000 in the world today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='what-is-the-rarest-whale'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the rarest whale?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(NOAA, Cell)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The spade-toothed whale is so rare that only two animals have ever been seen. And, those two were beached \u2014 none were ever spotted at sea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Until someone spots one, we can\u2019t be sure they\u2019re even around anymore.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only a few hundred North Pacific right whales are left, making them the rarest whale that we can certainly know still exists.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='how-big-is-a-blue-whale'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How big is a blue whale?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WWF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blue whales grow to be up to 100 feet long and can weigh around 400,000 pounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='why-do-narwhals-have-tusks'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why do narwhals have tusks?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(CNN, ELOKA)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No one knows for sure, but a recent study suggests it has to do with sexual selection. Male narwhals may use their tusks to compete for the attention of females.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, narwhals have been observed using tusks to stun fish. Other theories suggest they may use them to detect environmental changes and communicate with other narwhals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='conclusion'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whales may be the largest animals on our planet. But they\u2019re also fellow mammals with a calm disposition toward us humans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In part, that disposition led to their near-eradication, so we\u2019ve got a lot to make up for.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Armed with these <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">whale facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you\u2019re ready to start changing hearts and minds. Share what you know about these astonishing animals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/blogs\/headlines\/2012\/08\/boy-finds-ambergris-valuable-fragrant-rock-from-whale-poop-on-beach\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ABC News<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnh.org\/exhibitions\/extreme-mammals\/extreme-bodies\/brains\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AMNH<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/animaldiversity.org\/accounts\/Delphinapterus_leucas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Animal Diversity Web<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.environment.gov.au\/marine\/marine-species\/cetaceans\/whale-dolphins-sound\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Australian DAWE<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbcearth.com\/news\/how-earths-biggest-animal-started-small\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BBC<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/how-did-the-sperm-whale-get-its-name\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Britannica<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/sei-whale\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Britannica<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cell.com\/current-biology\/pdf\/S0960-9822(12)01059-7.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cell<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2016\/04\/14\/europe\/couple-finds-whale-vomit-irpt\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CNN<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.org\/media\/humpback-big-wing\/print\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/mammals\/facts\/gray-whale\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/science\/article\/for-150-years-no-one-had-ever-seen-a-full-spade-toothed-whale-then-two-wash-up-on-a-beach\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/article\/160302-blue-whale-mother-calf-nursing-video-pygmy-new-zealand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/article\/most-whales-cant-really-swallow-a-human-heres-why\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhm.ac.uk\/discover\/what-do-whales-eat-for-dinner.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National History Museum<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6417660\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NCBI<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.doc.govt.nz\/nature\/native-animals\/marine-mammals\/dolphins\/pilot-whales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Zealand DOC<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhm.ac.uk\/discover\/what-is-ambergris.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NHM UK<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fisheries.noaa.gov\/species\/bowhead-whale\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NOAA<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fisheries.noaa.gov\/species\/sei-whale\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NOAA<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fisheries.noaa.gov\/species\/beluga-whale\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NOAA<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fisheries.noaa.gov\/species\/narwhal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NOAA<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/noyocenter.org\/marine-mammals\/blue-whales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NOYO Center<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oceanconservancy.org\/blog\/2019\/03\/08\/exactly-narwhal-tusk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ocean Conservancy<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/nature\/whats-the-loudest-animal-relative-to-its-size\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Science Focus<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.edu\/newsdesk\/releases\/inuit-and-scientists-are-bringing-narwhals-and-melting-arctic-focus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smithsonian<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/smart-news\/north-atlantic-right-whales-have-shrunk-1981-180977963\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smithsonian Magazine<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/blogs\/metkids\/2021\/unicorn-narwhal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Met<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uk.whales.org\/whales-dolphins\/whales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whale and Dolphin Conservation<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/baleinesendirect.org\/en\/fin-blue-hybrids-a-new-challenge-for-blue-whale-conservation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whales Online<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/baleinesendirect.org\/en\/discover\/life-of-whales\/behaviour\/reproduction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whales Online<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/species\/blue-whale\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/stories\/unicorn-of-the-sea-narwhal-facts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do whales sleep?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"(Scientific American)\\nLike all mammals, whales need to sleep. But they still need to breathe consciously, so biologists compare what whales do to brief napping rather than sleeping.\\nWhales rest by either staying motionless in the water, either horizontally or vertically \u2014 or by slowly swimming alongside other whales.\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why are whales endangered?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"(WWF)\\nNot all whale species are currently endangered, but those that do share many of the same threats. \\nWhaling, although mostly outlawed, devastated whale populations that still haven\u2019t recovered.\\nFacts about whales show that climate change is leading to losses in, both, their habitats and their food sources.\\nOver 100,000 marine mammals die every year as a result of plastic pollution, including whales.\\nCommercial fishing gear and food source depletion from commercial fishing. \\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many whales are killed each year?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"(WWF)\\nWhaling is still a concern, but only around 1,000 animals are hunted each year by commercial fishing boats from Iceland, Japan, and Norway. \\nHowever, shipping, commercial fishing bycatch, and habitat loss lead to the deaths of over 300,000 whales and other marine mammals annually. \\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Does a whale have teeth?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"(WDC)\\nSome whales have teeth, and they\u2019re appropriately named toothed whales. Baleen whales, on the other hand, don\u2019t have teeth. \\nInstead, baleen whales have plates in their mouth made of the same substance that\u2019s in our hair. These hairy plates act as filters to capture tiny crustaceans the whales feed on. \\nToothed whales feed on squid, sharks, and other fish. \\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many whales are left in the world in 2022?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"(IWC, BBC, USA Today)\\nAcross all species of whales, there are hundreds of thousands of animals left. \\nHowever, some species are much less represented than others. For instance, researchers estimate only about 25,000 blue whales are left. \\nThere are around 85,000 fin whales with unsurveyed populations in the Southern hemisphere. \\nHumpback whales have made a substantial recovery, with around 150,000 in the world today. \\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the rarest whale?\\n\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"(NOAA, Cell)\\nThe spade-toothed whale is so rare that only two animals have ever been seen. And, those two were beached \u2014 none were ever spotted at sea. \\nUntil someone spots one, we can\u2019t be sure they\u2019re even around anymore.\\nOnly a few hundred North Pacific right whales are left, making them the rarest whale that we can certainly know still exists.\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How big is a blue whale?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"(WWF)\\nBlue whales grow to be up to 100 feet long and can weigh around 400,000 pounds. \\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why do narwhals have tusks?\\n\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"(CNN, ELOKA)\\nNo one knows for sure, but a recent study suggests it has to do with sexual selection. Male narwhals may use their tusks to compete for the attention of females.\\nHowever, narwhals have been observed using tusks to stun fish. Other theories suggest they may use them to detect environmental changes and communicate with other narwhals.\\n\"}}]}<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the most factinating whale facts and stats that shed light on the world&#8217;s largest mammals! [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/whale-facts\/\">Read More&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> from 27 Astonishing Whale Facts &#038; Stats to Be Aware of in 2024<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":11075,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-stats-and-facts"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11073"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11073\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}