Many have not heard of animals such as Japanese whales. This is due to the fact that until recently they were not isolated in a separate form. Affected by the small number of populations, which was the result of uncontrolled hunting.
Today, this animal is under threat of extinction, therefore, environmental organizations are working hard to preserve and increase their number. Our article will tell you about the amazing giants that live off the coast of Japan.
Species affiliation
Not so long ago, it was believed that representatives of this species belong to the North Atlantic smooth whales. But the Pacific species was separated into a separate species, since, with an absolute resemblance to the Atlantic counterpart, the Japanese smooth whale has a different DNA structure, and most individuals also have larger sizes. Of course, these animals are very closely related, but they cannot be called identical.
External features
Japanese whale is a very large mammal. The body length of adult females can exceed 18 meters, and sometimes weighs up to 80 tons. Males, like many cetaceans, are slightly smaller.
The body of the whale is massive, smooth, dark. There is one bright spot on the back of the abdomen. The head is very large, with callosity growths appear on it. A huge mouth with a curved line of the lower jaw attracts attention.
There is no dorsal fin, but the caudal fin, with a pronounced notch in the middle.
Habitat
These animals are found in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, the range is limited from the Sea of Okhotsk to the Bering and Alaska Gulf. Several times, representatives of the species were seen on the other side of the ocean - off the coast of Mexico.
The life of these large mammals of the Pacific Ocean is associated with migration. For the winter, they go to the waters of the Yellow and East China Seas, where the onset of the breeding season is awaited. Kids are born off the coast of South Korea.
In the summer, whales perform feeding near the Kuril and Commander Islands, in the Sea of Okhotsk. Information that Japanese whales approach the coast is rather scarce. These animals prefer space.
In 2010, whales were spotted off the eastern coast of Kamchatka. Researchers had not noticed before that they came so close to the coast.
How do Japanese whales live?
The massive physique of many animals creates the illusion of slowness. Japanese whales are not at all ruffled; they lead a rather mobile way of life. Their movements are leisurely and imposing, devoid of unnecessary fuss, but experts call these animals active and even playful.
The marine giant, like many of its relatives, feeds on plankton. The whale swallows huge volumes of water, from which it filters out crustaceans, and then releases fountains up to five meters high. The favorite delicacy of these whales is calanus crustaceans. To get enough, an adult eats up to 2 tons of feed per day.
The Japanese whale dives to a relatively shallow depth of 25 meters. During feeding, under the skin of these animals, layers of subcutaneous fat are formed, which are necessary to maintain strength and normal heat transfer in cold waters.
Sailors who were fortunate enough to watch Japanese whales assure that it is a pleasure to admire these animals. In the measured movements of the marine giants, real elegance is felt.
Procreation
Females are able to give birth to babies aged 6-12 years. The reproductive potential of these animals is low, which is why the populations are not numerous.
Pregnancy lasts 12-13 months. Childbirth occurs in water. In most cases, one cub is born. In the first year of life, the baby accompanies the mother, feeds her milk, acquires the necessary skills. The whale father does not take part in raising offspring.
It has been established that after the birth of a whale, a female can become pregnant again in no less than 3-5 years.
Whaling
Whale hunting was once considered a dangerous business. That all changed when, in 1868, the Norwegian whaler Sven Foyn invented the harpoon gun. This weapon has become a real death machine. Whales were exterminated en masse. It is known that between 1839 and 1909, up to 37 thousand Japanese whales were exterminated.
People thought about the consequences only after a few decades. In 1935, whaling was officially banned. This, of course, reduced the scale of the undeclared war, but did not stop the poaching. The fight against illegal extermination continues to this day.
Threat of extinction
Japanese whale is officially considered the rarest marine mammal in the waters of Russia. The species faces a real prospect of complete extinction. The animal is listed in the Red Book, whale hunting is prohibited, environmental organizations are doing everything possible, however, the number of populations remains catastrophically small. Low fertility simply can not compensate for the losses incurred.
Currently, two populations are known: Pacific and Okhotsk. The first includes about 4 hundred individuals, while the second can hardly count fifty adult whales. But back in the 19th century, only the Okhotsk population consisted of 20 thousand copies.
Today, many marine animals die due to widespread environmental pollution. Japanese whales may also suffer from collisions with large vessels or perish by accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
And although people are trying to make every effort to save these animals, the scientists do not have confidence that the species will survive and restore their former numbers.