Possibly the world's friendliest whale,
In mid-October they embark on the journey all over again, heading 5,000 miles back to warmer waters for the winter. Gray whales are known to be very curious and inquisitive, giving them reputation of being the “friendly” whale.
Although there are opportunities to swim with many different species of whales, the humpback whale is widely regarded as being one of the most popular ones due to its friendly nature.
They are the largest animals on Earth, yet they live off some of the smallest. They can grow to lengths of 30 meters (90 feet), but it is the microscopic zooplankton, krill and small fish that sustains them.
Blainville's beaked whales
Blainville's whales are believed to spend 80 percent of their lives in silence. They also suck up their food, which is common for beaked whales, but given that they're so quiet the rest of the time, the fact that slurping is the main sound they make seems icky.
Although huge by size, humpback whales are one of the most gentle animals in the world. It is safe to swim with whales, but do listen to the instructions of your guide. Be respectful to the whales by keeping your distance and not touching them.
Because of their intelligence and social nature, orca whales are unlikely to attack humans out of aggression or hostility. In fact, there have been numerous instances of orca whales coming to the aid of humans who were in danger, such as when a group of orca whales helped a diver escape from a shark attack.
Whales and dolphins — both members of the cetacean family — are among the brainiest beings. Scientists have now identified differences among them that are tied to relative brain size.
Historical research paints a much different picture, but today, modern research shows us that whales are and always have been typically a friendly species. Today when whales are spotted, their relationships with humans are now amicable, social, and inquisitive.
These calls can travel up to 500 miles underwater. But the loudest is the sperm whale. It makes a series of clicking noises that can reach as high as 230 db making it the loudest animal in the world.
Beluga whales are extremely friendly and social and form groups of an average of 10 whales, but during their summer migration they can gather in the thousands (like they do in the warmer waters of the Churchill and Seal River estuaries where they feed and give birth).
While it isn't common for whales to save humans, it is common for whales to save other creatures as they are altruistic towards other species. This article covers a video of a humpback saving a human from a tiger shark.
Beneath the shiny performer exterior, dolphins do things like abuse their females and kill their young. No so with the Beluga. They have some moves too, but there's no psychotic, flip-switch personality lurking beneath their playful demeanors. Belugas are among some of the only aquatic species that can swim backwards.
Whales basically have two enemies: Orcas (killer whales, which in fact are not whales, but dolphins) and human beings. Only one type of Orca, the transient orca, is known to attack whales and other marine mammals. Transients Orcas are sometimes referred to as "wolves of the sea" as they will hunt in packs.
The whales are famous for the way they seem to really like humans. When they see boats, they often swim over. And if the people inside are lucky, the whales will come close enough to get patted, rubbed, or even kissed!
Is it safe to swim or dive with Orcas? What is this? Yes, however, you have to be very cautious, because they are still wild animals and need attention all the time. Orcas owe their name “killer whale” to the early whalers Because they apparently attacked and killed all other animals, even the largest whales.
Whales are social creatures and live in groups; but they are not as friendly to humans as dolphins are.
Killer whales are carnivorous sea mammals; they attack other sea creatures by default. Their large body size, swimming speed, long, sharp teeth, and intelligence make them the most dangerous predator in the ocean, and fortunately, the ocean offers a lot of prey at their beck and call.
While many dolphins are often friendly, outgoing, curious, or passive, they have been known to attack humans and other marine mammals when they feel threatened or are highly stressed due to unpleasant situations and circumstances.
It's estimated that dolphins have an IQ of around 45, this makes them one of the smartest animals in the world, and probably the smartest animal in the ocean. It's estimated that the dolphin's brain size is almost five times bigger than is usual for a creature of their size.
Bottlenose Dolphins
For years, dolphins have been heralded as the smartest animals on Earth, second only to humans—though some would even contest that ranking. Aside from humans, dolphins have the greatest brain-to-body ratio among animal species, including primates.
It's pretty much common wisdom that the top predator in the ocean is the great white shark (that is, if there isn't a remnant population of megalodon hidden somewhere in the deep).
If you see an orca, Natoli said, you should keep a distance of about 50 to 100 meters (164 to 328 feet) and turn off your engine or, at the very least, slow down. "Try not to approach them from the back or from the front. Stay on their side instead," Natoli told the Khaleej Times.
Toni Frohoff, research director at TerraMar Research, is confident that orcas are not dumb animals. "If anything, since orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family, their intelligence is perhaps superior to other dolphins," she told me.