A female blue whale was involved in a dramatic display of competition for mating rights in the waters near Port Macdonnell, southern Australia. During a recent aerial survey, two male whales were seen chasing and crashing into each other as they tried to attract the female. This behavior was captured by members of the Blue Whale Study research program and confirmed by researchers in Canada.
The blue whale is the largest animal on Earth, reaching lengths of over 30 meters and weighing up to 200 tons. Despite their size, they are filter feeders, mainly consuming krill and plankton. The cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Bonney Coastal upwelling region attract plenty of plankton, which in turn attracts whales to the area.
The male whales would frequently change speed and direction while trying to stay close to the female while also trying to displace each other. This impressive display of strength was observed for about 15 minutes before the research team decided to leave so that the whales could continue their pursuit. Blue whales were heavily hunted in the 20th century, leading to a significant decline in their population. They are currently listed as an endangered species on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Blue whales likely swim from feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean to breeding grounds off the coast of Indonesia, where they pair up in preparation for mating season.
