Most whales eat a diet consisting of fish, krill, and other small creatures (not mammals). This selective diet significantly decreases the likelihood that a whale will be unfriendly to a human or try to eat them, so they have little reason to be aggressive towards people.
You could be stressing it out. Swimming with whales or touching them disrupts their natural behavior. This can cause large amounts of stress in certain whales, potentially putting the diver in danger. Some whales experience less stress or are more used to humans.
Indeed, whales see the world in shades of grey! They can distinguish light from dark, but, like humans who are colour blind, they cannot tell the difference between red and green on a traffic light.
There are a few theories about why orcas don't attack humans in the wild, but they generally come down to the idea that orcas are fussy eaters and only tend to sample what their mothers teach them is safe. Since humans would never have qualified as a reliable food source, our species was never sampled.
Gray whales are known to be very curious and inquisitive, giving them reputation of being the “friendly” whale.
"Whales don't have teeth like humans do. They have baleen," he explained. "But we do know they seem to enjoy being touched in the mouth. They initiate that and open their mouths for you."
There are many cases where nomadic killer whales have gravitated to humans, bonding with them and playing games. Trainers at places like Sea World say very little goes into orca training. The whales seem to understand people, and are eager to cooperate and create bonds.
Dolphins have a reputation for being friendly, but they are actually wild animals who should be treated with caution and respect. Interactions with people change dolphin behavior for the worse. They lose their natural wariness, which makes them easy targets for vandalism and shark attack.
Unlike the lone sociable dolphins, they only seem interested in us because they receive free food. Visitors regularly report curious and amiable interactions with them.
Incredible footage has emerged of a giant humpback whale protecting a diver from a circling shark in the pacific. Marine biologist Nan Hauser was lifted by the 22 tonne whale's head totally out of the water to save her from the 15 foot tiger shark.
Whale and dolphin brains contain specialized brain cells called spindle neurons. These are associated with advanced abilities such as recognising, remembering, reasoning, communicating, perceiving, adapting to change, problem-solving and understanding. So it seems they are deep thinkers!
From a historical perspective, whales do appear to be non-aggressive. Their relatives, the dolphin species, tend to be very friendly and curious toward humans, often displaying a desire to greet and meet people.
Not because it means whales can speak English, but that they are capable of one of the core building blocks of language development in humans: vocal learning, the ability to copy novel sounds. The astonishing thing about a whale saying “hello” is not what it means to us, but what it means to them – absolutely nothing.
Under no circumstances should they attempt to chase or pet marine wildlife. If a whale approaches, kayakers should cease paddling to let it pass or retreat slowly to avoid contact, without making sudden movements or excess noise.
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. Humpback whales themselves avoid anything or anybody on their path, and they are very aware of their surroundings.
On November 20, 1820, the American whaling ship Essex was rammed by a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and sunk. The incident inspired Herman Melville's famous novel Moby Dick. The Essex had left her home port on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States, more than a year earlier.
Dolphins and Pregnant Woman
Dolphins appear to have a special affection for pregnant women. They have been known to swim up to an expecting woman and make buzzing sounds near her stomach. This is thought to be because dolphins might be able to detect a pregnant woman's developing fetus by using echolocation.
Dolphins have even been known to protect humans in danger of sharks. Apex Prey. Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family and have been known to hunt great white sharks when food is scarce.
Most seals are not known to be aggressive. Seal attacks on humans are rare, but they have happened. Seals, especially in their natural habitat, are often timid and would not initiate an attack out of anywhere. Yet, when they feel threatened or provoked, they can bite as an act of self-defense.
#1 Dogs. First on our list of the top 10 friendliest animals in the world is man's best friend – dogs.
No one knows why, but dolphins have been saving people for thousands of years. Dating back to Ancient Greece, there are dozens of claims of dolphins rescuing people from sharks, helping drowning sailors, and guiding boats through rough waters. But it's not just ancient mythology – it's still happening all the time.
Most sharks are not dangerous to humans — people are not part of their natural diet. Despite their scary reputation, sharks rarely ever attack humans and would much rather feed on fish and marine mammals. Only about a dozen of the more than 300 species of sharks have been involved in attacks on humans.
WASHINGTON — Killer whales display personality traits similar to those of humans and chimpanzees, such as playfulness, cheerfulness and affection, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
In the wild, there have been no reliably verified fatal attacks on humans. In captivity, there have been several non-fatal and four fatal attacks on humans since the 1970s. Experts are divided as to whether the injuries and deaths were accidental or deliberate attempts to cause harm.
You Should Never Touch a Whale
You might get hurt or sick. Whales may scratch, bite, or thrash their tails, placing you in danger. Whales can also transmit a specific disease called brucellosis. You may also transmit bacteria to the whale, making them sick.