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Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

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Found a photo that was very popular on the Internet

It's interesting

Oh ~ just this ↓

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

A humpback whale with its left fin transforms into a dragon fist

Hammer a killer whale into the air

People can't help but cry out for killer whales

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

Humpback whale beating killer whale photos on the Internet caused heated discussion, and some officials stood up to popularize science and said: The picture is p, but the thing is true.

It is said that wild humpback whales have the habit of beating killer whales, and even humpback whales heard the sound of killer whales 7.6 kilometers away, and rushed to beat the killer whales and flew away.

And you may not think that humpback whales hit killer whales very painfully, and their powerful fins and tails, combined with sharp barnacles, can completely cut the killer whales apart.

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

Some netizens also explained that the humpback whale beats the killer whale because the cubs are often attacked by the killer whale, so they heard the sound of the killer whale hunting and rushed over. When he arrived at the scene and found that it was not his own cub, in the spirit of "coming and coming", he beat him up by the way.

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

It is said that in 1988, a male humpback whale was photographed participating in the rescue of a Northern Sea Lion, and in 2003, it fought bravely with the killer whale to rescue another North Sea Lion.

The researchers carefully compared the two photos, "Well, isn't this the same humpback whale!!! That is to say, this humpback whale has been chasing the killer whale for 15 years to carry out the heroic act of punishing evil and promoting good.

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

But why?

Why humpback whales beat killer whales violently

What kind of grudges and hatreds are there between them?

To know why

We'll have to look at the difference between these two whales

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

Humpback whale (megapteranovaeangliae)

Humpback whales, also known as large-winged whales, are behemoths that roam the vast oceans, with adults up to a dozen meters long and weighing nearly 30 tons, and like many members of the baleen whale family, they feed mainly on small crustaceans such as krill.

Humpback whales have a nickname called "the good guy in the green forest of the ocean", because when they see killer whales committing murder, they will draw their swords to help and rush to the rescue, especially like to stir up the field of killer whales.

Killer whale (orcinusorca)

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

Unlike humpback whales, killer whales are a fierce carnivore that often travels in pairs, raiding prey like wolves, and is a veritable overlord of the ocean.

Many large fish have been bullied, and even sharks and blue whales may become their prey, so most fish do not dare to approach easily, but when the sound of killer whales hunting is heard, only humpback whales will come to stop them.

Humpback whales have no substantial interest in killer whales, and they are easy to put themselves in danger, and it is not cost-effective to think about it.

But this has become an inherent trait of humpback whales, so many scientists have studied it and tried to find out why.

There are probably several reasons for summarizing.

humpback whale:

I don't target anyone

But bullying is not OK

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

There are many indications that humpback whales may have relied on keen hearing to detect killer whale predation before intervening.

Killer whales tend to be very quiet when they track their prey, but once they have locked on to their targets and start attacking, they start to shout, and humpback whales may only respond by hearing the sound of killer whales preying.

Before reaching the killer whale hunting area, humpback whales may not know what animals they are rescuing, or they may not care.

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

In fact, in addition to killer whales, humpback whales also target pseudorcacrassidens and globicephalaspp, which are also vulnerable to active attacks by humpback whales when these cetaceans attack the cubs of large cetaceans.

The reason why humpback whales are so "dare to fight", scientists speculate, may be to ensure the safety of juvenile or humpback whales.

Revenge, no?!

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

Where does the humpback whale habit of yellowing killer whales come from?

Researchers can't yet give definitive answers.

But there is a saying that because small humpback whales are often bullied by killer whales, they will write down this vendetta and choose revenge when they grow up.

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

According to statistics, in 43% of the conflicts provoked by killer whales, killer whale targets are often humpback whale cubs, humpback whale cubs are relatively weak, and do not have an absolute advantage over killer whales in size.

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

Killer whales often try to separate juvenile humpback whales from their elders and attack their cubs. At this time, the mother humpback whale will carry the cub on the back and back of the head, lifting it out of the water to avoid the attack.

Perhaps this is how the "beams" of humpback whales and killer whales are knotted.

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

Humpback whales attack killer whales, perhaps just idle. For humpback whales, they are rarely injured when they fight with killer whales anyway, and they don't mind doing things, seeing killer whales find a pastime, exercise their muscles and bones, and try their skills.

Why humpback whales can't live with killer whales

But humpback whales fight killer whales

What is the real reason behind it

unknown

It will be waiting for marine biologists to study it further

To be able to tell us the answer

Source | Popular Science Panda

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Source: Chinese Meteorological Science