Humpback Whales: Sympathetic Protectors
In Humpback Whales: Sympathetic Protectors, marine biologists discuss occasions when they have witnessed humpback whales protecting other species and how their behavior shows empathy and altruism. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Natural World: Humpback Whales — A Detective Story, a documentary about our relationship with whales and their future alongside us.
Lesson Express
Q: What are some characteristics and physical traits of humpback whales that give scientists confidence that these whales can protect other animals from sea predators?
A: Humpback whales are known to be large and powerful. In addition, both their their tails and giant fins are over 16 feet (5 meters) long. They are also known to have social behaviors such as group actions, which suggest that they act in sync to protect others.
Q: Can you think of other animals that are considered to be altruistic?
A: Student answers will vary. Some examples are vampire bats, chimpanzees, and elephants.
Q: What other animals did the humpback whale protect in the ocean?
A: The humpback whale protected seals, dolphins, giant ocean sunfish, and sea lions.
More Like This
In Meet the Humpback Whale, naturalist Steve Backshall swims with humpback whales. He sends a drone out to capture footage of them playing and breaching the water around Isla de la Plata in Ecuador. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
In The Sophisticated Feeding Technique of Humpback Whales, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the Southern Ocean and the humpback whales that feed there. When Antarctica broke off from South America, it created swirling currents that sweep up nutrients from the bottom of the ocean, making it one of the richest waters on earth. In the summer, humpback whales come there to feast on shoals of krill, blowing curtains of bubbles and spiraling inwards to capture the swarm. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Meet the Humpback Whale, naturalist Steve Backshall swims with humpback whales. He sends a drone out to capture footage of them playing and breaching the water around Isla de la Plata in Ecuador. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
In The Sophisticated Feeding Technique of Humpback Whales, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the Southern Ocean and the humpback whales that feed there. When Antarctica broke off from South America, it created swirling currents that sweep up nutrients from the bottom of the ocean, making it one of the richest waters on earth. In the summer, humpback whales come there to feast on shoals of krill, blowing curtains of bubbles and spiraling inwards to capture the swarm. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.