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The humpback whales that were usually seen in the water of Hawaii during winter, are missing this year,
Every year, the humpback whales can be seen as they migrate to the Hawaii islands during this time of the year. This year, the humpback whales are missing, causing the scientists to question where they could be.
The humpback whale can have a length between 39 and 52 feet and it can weigh up to 79,000 lb. This type of whale has a distinctive appearance, with its knobbly head and long pectoral fins. The breaching behavior makes it a popular species for the whale watchers. The humpback males can produce a song that can last up to 20 minutes, which they can repeat for hours. It is possible that the song is used for mating purposes. They usually migrate 16,000 miles each year. They mostly eat small fish and krill.
During winter in Hawaii, the migration of the whales is a big event and people from all around the world come to the islands in order to see them. Cars are usually lined on the Akoni Pule Highway, as the people watch in wonder the beautiful spectacle. Trips on the water are also provided in order for the tourists to take closer looks.
Every winter, the humpback whales migrate from Alaska to Hawaii, where they breed and give birth. Their number is usually up to 10,000. The Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary was noticed that the whales are almost impossible to spot this year.
One of the whale migration enthusiasts is Brian Powers, an aerial photographer bade in Kailu-Kona. He has been photographing the humpback whales for years now, and this is the first time that he hasn’t spotted any of them. The fact that he was on a lookout for a month and no whale showed up, it could be a worrying fact. The Modern Readers News claims that there is no need to concern because the official statistics of the whales only start at the end of January. The whale counting will stop in March.
Some theories have been developed as to why the whales didn’t show up yet. A lot of theories blame El Nino, but there are also theories that blame the poor food supplies. As El Nino changed water temperatures in a lot of areas, the whales could have changed the location of their migration. According to a research done in 2007, the rising temperatures of the water could make the humpback whales go in an area with optimal water temperatures and habitat. According to Ed Lyman, the missing whales could indicate that their population has majorly increased.
This year, the humpback whales are missing and it is still unknown whether the whales have changed their migration location or whether something else happened with the whale population.
Image Source: www.upload.wikimedia.org
