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Why Do The Whales Come?

by Biol. Oscar S. Aranda Mena |

Why Do the Whales Come?
By Biol. Oscar S. Aranda Mena*


During the winter, humpback whales can be seen throughout the bay, but very few people stop to think about the reason for their visit and their disappearance the rest of the year. Those leaps and tail slaps that bring us such joy and the pods of whales swimming together are for a reason that has nothing to do with giving tourists a show or photo opportunity.    

Let’s go whale watching!
Every day, the whales provide hundreds of tourists with unforgettable and touching experiences, filling their hearts with joy and their faces with smiles.

Observing whales up to 15 meters long gliding smoothly and gently on the surface and searching for that perfect photographic moment (that will likely be shared in who knows how many corners of the world) tends to make us forget they are wild animals that have traveled thousands of kilometers to arrive here, and that they are not the least interested in becoming famous.

The reason: sex, sex, sex
On a lucky day, we may be able to watch whales weighing more than 35 tons jumping out of the water as limber as the tiniest of fishes, performing spectacular spins and thumping their tails to remind us of just how small and weak we are in nature.

The reality that we tend to dismiss is that these spectacular displays of power are just part of an intense battle to acquire the rights to reproduce, the main reason the whales come to our bay. Very few female whales will be available; therefore, a great number of suitors battle to demonstrate to the females that they are the strongest and healthiest, regardless of how much energy or time it may take to succeed. 

Mexican whales
One common behavior among the majority of animals is “infidelity,” and whales are no exception. Once the male has achieved his objective, he will abandon the female and seek to mate with other available females. Meanwhile, this one will begin her journey back for nourishment, and then her journey back next winter to give birth after 11 months of pregnancy. This is how our whales become “immigrants” or “wetbacks:” after being born in Mexican territory, they migrate back to the coast of the United States to feed, re-visiting their native territory year after year.

During its visit to the bay (around 4 weeks), the newborn is trained to exercise its muscles so it can endure the long journey that awaits (sometimes as much as 5,000 kilometers), although its mother will transport it on her body part of the journey, allowing it to rest while she helps it along with the aid of the sea current. The following year, the calf will travel with its mother, although completely independent. Once they arrive here in the bay, they will part ways forever.

The calf will have mastered the round-trip journey, employing all its senses to recognize the route. The sounds of the environment (natural and artificial) form an integral part of their development, and recently, it’s been discovered that they are able to recognize a specific location just by listening to the surrounding sounds. They are the only animals capable of recognizing where a particular sound is coming from.

But don’t worry about understanding whale behavior. It’s best to just enjoy their performance and bask in the thrill of this marvelous experience. The only thing you have to do is to go to an authorized vessel to book your whale-watching trip. These are identified by a purple flag, which guarantees you are not on a “pirate” vessel. Make sure you hire an experienced company because they are trained to, above all, respect the whales and the laws that protect them.

Oscar Aranda is a biologist dedicated to the conservation of natural resources through environmental awareness and heads the marine turtle protection program in Puerto Vallarta. If you would like additional information, visit their web page at www.vallartanature.org

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