Kaikoura Sperm Whale

Kaikoura Sperm Whale

So the last picture I will post from New Zealand on Phototainable for a while and for me one of my favourites. We were very priviledged to be able to go searching for Sperm Whales by Helicopter and wow what a sight, for me it was one of the remaining wonders that Planet Earth has to share with us. The Sperm Whale is the 3rd largest whale in the world and the largest of the toothed whales. It is hard to appreciate the scale, however this male is at least the length of a passenger coach. Kaikoura is a unique location in the world due to the deep offshore canyon (connected to the Hikurangi Trough) that in combination with ocean circulation patterns provides rich nutrient waters for the whales to feed in. The sperm whales will surface for approximately 7 minutes to oxygenate their blood and they will then dive to great depths (greater than 2000 m) for 45 minutes to feed on species such as the giant squid before returning to the surface. I hope we will be able to return to spend more time photographing these beautiful creatures.... it gets me out of bed in the morning just thinking about it!

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Categories: [Aotearoa / New Zealand]  [default]  [Nature]  [Wildlife]  

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  • great picture, I'll always wanted to see a whale.
    patrycja @ 2007-04-04 10:44:44
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Kaikoura Sperm Whale

Kaikoura Sperm Whale

So the last picture I will post from New Zealand on Phototainable for a while and for me one of my favourites. We were very priviledged to be able to go searching for Sperm Whales by Helicopter and wow what a sight, for me it was one of the remaining wonders that Planet Earth has to share with us. The Sperm Whale is the 3rd largest whale in the world and the largest of the toothed whales. It is hard to appreciate the scale, however this male is at least the length of a passenger coach. Kaikoura is a unique location in the world due to the deep offshore canyon (connected to the Hikurangi Trough) that in combination with ocean circulation patterns provides rich nutrient waters for the whales to feed in. The sperm whales will surface for approximately 7 minutes to oxygenate their blood and they will then dive to great depths (greater than 2000 m) for 45 minutes to feed on species such as the giant squid before returning to the surface. I hope we will be able to return to spend more time photographing these beautiful creatures.... it gets me out of bed in the morning just thinking about it!

Tags & Categories

Tags: none
Categories: [Aotearoa / New Zealand]  [default]  [Nature]  [Wildlife]  

EXIF

Focal Length:
Exposure:
Aperture:
ISO:

Latest Comment

  • great picture, I'll always wanted to see a whale.
    patrycja @ 2007-04-04 10:44:44
Add Comment   View All (1)