Stunning drone view of gray whale following boat with tourists© ilyaska/iStock via Getty Images
Watch the Video
Click here to watch on YouTube
Quick Take
Gray whales are enormous but often curious around boats, which is why close encounters like this can happen during whale-watching tours.
These whales can reach nearly 50 feet long and weigh up to about 90,000 pounds, making any close-up interaction especially dramatic.
Their rough-looking skin and barnacles may seem alarming, but barnacles are a normal part of many gray whales’ appearance.
There is a strong bond that we feel with our pets which is why we value them so deeply. The National Library of Medicine supports that pets have a direct impact on the mental health of their owners. So, it’s not just the matter of seeing them that brings us joy. But, rather, it is a profound connection that reinforces us emotionally. Don’t miss this amazing interaction these tourists get with a gigantic gray whale in the video above.
Gray Whales Sighting on Tour
The short YouTube video clip shown just above comes to us from the Adam Ernster Wildlife YouTube channel. This man is dedicated to everything having to do with wildlife and the ocean. His most popular video clips are of killer whales, dolphins, and a gorgeous blue whale.
Massive Gray Whales Greet Tourists
As the video starts out at the top of this blog post, we see a couple of tourists that are passing by two gray whales up ahead. There is no need for them to enjoy them from afar, as these whales jump on the opportunity to approach the boat, giving the tourists a rare close-up look. Elated that these whales, larger than the boat they were in, came up so close, the tourists started to pet them.
The NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shares that gray whales can grow to be 49 feet in length and weigh up to 90,000 pounds!
Are Gray Whales Friendly?
The barnacles that are stuck to gray whales do not harm them.
©Mogens Trolle/Shutterstock.com
(Mogens Trolle/Shutterstock.com)
Don’t let their massive weight fool you. These mammals are among the most curious whales around boats. It’s easy to confuse large animals with aggression and small animals as cute and friendly. But that isn’t always the case. So, don’t judge a book by its cover.
According to the Ocean Conservancy, gray whales will often curiously come up close to boats to see what is going on and to meet people, as we can see from the video above. “Gray whales also have the reputation of being the friendliest whales in the world.”
Even one of the TikTok followers commented on the video, “They’re like big water puppies that would totally climb in the boat if they could!” They are often known as the gentle giants of the water. Kind of like elephants are known as the gentle giants on land. Despite their massive size and being the largest land animal, they can show complex social behavior. They are still powerful wild animals, though, and should never be assumed to be friendly.
Watch the Video
Click here to watch the video.
The post These Curious Gray Whales Swam So Close Tourists Could Reach Out and Touch Them appeared first on A-Z Animals.