Astonishing whale feeding frenzy seen off the eastern coast of Greenland
The population of baleen whales along eastern Greenland has boomed in recent decades, and reporter Leah Crane recounts a profound experience of seeing them
Astonishing whale feeding frenzy was witnessed off the eastern coast of Greenland, off the Sylvia Earle expedition ship. At first, expedition members could only observe a few small water plumes and a faint "pfft" sound, but the captain Greg Mortimer later informed of the presence of a group containing about 20 to 40 whales. As they approached, the team was stunned to discover that the actual number of whales was considerably larger - hundreds, possibly even up to 1000.
The ship's engines were halted when the whales surrounded the vessel, and all that could be heard was the splash of fins, the "poof" of whale breath, and occasional comments from passengers and crew. The most breathtaking photos of the total solar eclipse that had taken place four days earlier during the two-week voyage paled in comparison to this awe-inspiring sight.
The population of baleen whales in eastern Greenland had increased significantly, which researchers believe is due to the receding ice and warmer water, providing an abundance of their preferred food source, krill and small fish. It was estimated that the humpback whales alone consumed about 1 million tonnes of food during their four months in the region.
The whale feeding frenzy left a lasting impression on the expedition crew and passengers, many of whom expressed their amazement and gratitude for witnessing such a remarkable event.
Written by urgent.news from New Scientist's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
