Annually, this time of the year, Hawaii is receiving great marine guests but it looks like this year Hawaii whales are missing.
- Humpback whales come by the thousands in Hawaii every November
- The whales spend the cold season in warm waters until May
- El Nino might be the reason behind the whales low numbers
When the cold season arrives, the humpback whales move to the warm waters of Hawaii, where they spend the winter. However, this year they were late and also fewer. Specialists are trying to find the reason behind the whales’ disappearance.
Now, we’re not talking about ten whales coming each year, but about ten thousand that populate the island’s waters in winter time and that also attract a large number of tourists trying to spot them. They usually come in late October or November and leave in May.
This year, however, there are nearly no humpback whales in Hawaii. According to a specialist from the Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary one of the reasons for such low numbers is El Nino.
Apparently, El Nino changed the water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. The water being warmer, the humpback whales didn’t feel the need to head towards Hawaii so they probably just stayed where they were. Of course, not only El Nino is to blame for the warm water temperatures but global warming in general. Since glaciers are melting in the Arctic, it is only natural that all oceans are getting warmer.
On the other hand, there’s another theory concerning the low numbers of whales in Hawaiian waters. According to specialists, another reason for the delay could be an increased number of whales.
It seems that when the number of whales increases they need more time to hunt and gather food. Until they have enough supplies they don’t head towards warmer waters.
The humpback whales come from Alaska to Hawaii every year. During the trip they form groups of four, after that they mate and bringing their offsprings into the world, form bigger pods. Unfortunately, as many other marine creatures, these whales are also endangered. According to statistics from the California Marina Mammal Center, the population of humpback whales is only at 10 percent from the original numbers.
Hopefully, the missing whales from Hawaii are indeed simply located someplace else and not missing for good, as this would mean the concerns about the species’ endangerment will dramatically rise.
Image source: www.bing.com
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