Understanding patterns of whale migration means coming to the realization that whale life forms on our planet have developed an extremely complex whale life. Usually, the number one question that continues to crop up about whales is why do these mammals migrate all around the world's oceans like they do?
When it comes to the many diverse species of whale, there really doesn't appear to be any particular species that doesn't undergo some form of migration or another. Almost all take on a migration that takes them from some point on the world ocean to another point which usually results in a migratory pattern that goes from the northern latitudes to the southern latitudes or vice versa.
Typically, a whale spends one part of its year feeding and storing up fat for not only the migration but energy stores when it reaches its destination. It will usually spend the feeding season in cooler waters in high latitude locations and then when winter rolls around begin migrating to tropical waters in southern and lower latitude areas in order to mate and give birth. It's part of a timeless pattern.
A typical example of whale migratory behavior is that exhibited by the blue whale. It will spend its days in the northern hemisphere feeding extensively. Come mating and birthing season, it will begin a move down south to warmer tropical waters where it will mate and then deliver a single calf. Why it does this in such a pattern is still a matter of speculation.
Usually, the answer is that they evolved to take advantage of the more welcoming climates of the lower latitudes which would enable the species to not only mate congenially but also give birth to a calf that would have the luxury of learning from its mother before making a migration to the North in order to begin learning how to feed extensively.
Regardless of the reason, it is truly beautiful and wonderful to get a glimpse at these magnificent animals and the actions they undertake to make their way around the world ocean in order to get from one place to another. Their behaviors are ancient in ways we cannot conceive, and they're extremely intelligent life forms that we have only begun to understand.
When it comes to the many diverse species of whale, there really doesn't appear to be any particular species that doesn't undergo some form of migration or another. Almost all take on a migration that takes them from some point on the world ocean to another point which usually results in a migratory pattern that goes from the northern latitudes to the southern latitudes or vice versa.
Typically, a whale spends one part of its year feeding and storing up fat for not only the migration but energy stores when it reaches its destination. It will usually spend the feeding season in cooler waters in high latitude locations and then when winter rolls around begin migrating to tropical waters in southern and lower latitude areas in order to mate and give birth. It's part of a timeless pattern.
A typical example of whale migratory behavior is that exhibited by the blue whale. It will spend its days in the northern hemisphere feeding extensively. Come mating and birthing season, it will begin a move down south to warmer tropical waters where it will mate and then deliver a single calf. Why it does this in such a pattern is still a matter of speculation.
Usually, the answer is that they evolved to take advantage of the more welcoming climates of the lower latitudes which would enable the species to not only mate congenially but also give birth to a calf that would have the luxury of learning from its mother before making a migration to the North in order to begin learning how to feed extensively.
Regardless of the reason, it is truly beautiful and wonderful to get a glimpse at these magnificent animals and the actions they undertake to make their way around the world ocean in order to get from one place to another. Their behaviors are ancient in ways we cannot conceive, and they're extremely intelligent life forms that we have only begun to understand.
About the Author:
Watching whales has always Allan Hoffland's passion for as long as he can remember and has always pondered about whale migration.
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