Whale watching is only possible at specific times in the calendar year, and only in a select number of places in the world. Yet it represents one of the most special events in the marine tourism agenda. Whale watching Channel Islands is one opportunity to engage in this activity. If you are in the Channel Islands in Oxnard CA at the appropriate time of the year, you should investigate this event.
Whales are the largest mammals on earth. It might sound strange that they are mammals, since they live in the sea, but they are. They are not cold-blooded, and they also breathe using lungs, unlike ordinary fish, which use gills.
The gills of a fish allow water to pass through them continuously as the fish swims. Not having gills, a whale is unable to do this. This is why it frequently surfaces to inhale its next supply of fresh air. It breathes through its blowhole or spout. The latter is positioned on top of its massive head. This is how the trademark spray of seawater is formed when it surfaces or breaches - as it exhales through its spout, seawater is blasted upwards in a visible explosion.
It then inhales fresh air and submerses itself, or dives, once more. It can dive very deep and remain underwater for a long time. The main principle, though, is that, like a human diver, it must surface at some point in time to breathe.
The main threat to these animals has historically been human predation, or hunting. This is known technically as whaling. It used to be a very common activity in bygone times, but recently it has been prohibited by most nations. Japan is the exception to the rule, and Japanese ships annually hunt them. There has been opposition to this practice, but Japan claims that the whaling is performed in order to further research.
The traditional weapon used to hunt is the metal harpoon. The harpoon resembles a spear or javelin, and it is thrown or projected at the animal from the hunting ship or boat. In more primitive times, a smaller vessel or rowing boat was used to get close to the whale, and the sailor entrusted with the harpoon would then physically throw it at the whale. Sailors in the boat would wait expectantly for the whale to breach, which it would obviously have to do every so often.
Modern harpoons would sometimes have a grenade attached to them. The harpoon would penetrate into the animal and the grenade would then explode deep inside the its body, inflicting serious internal injuries or killing it in this way. Other harpoons used in the modern era were electrified, and would electrocute it in the sea. These harpoons were launched mechanically from the ship at high speed.
The effect of whaling on whale numbers was profound, and whales are now an endangered species. Their reproduction is particularly slow. Larger whale species sometimes have a gestation period of about two years. Japan simply refuses to stop all whaling expeditions, and Japanese vessels hunt a pre-approved number of animals every year. Other countries, however, have banned whaling entirely. If you get the chance to watch the whales, it is worth your while to take it.
Whales are the largest mammals on earth. It might sound strange that they are mammals, since they live in the sea, but they are. They are not cold-blooded, and they also breathe using lungs, unlike ordinary fish, which use gills.
The gills of a fish allow water to pass through them continuously as the fish swims. Not having gills, a whale is unable to do this. This is why it frequently surfaces to inhale its next supply of fresh air. It breathes through its blowhole or spout. The latter is positioned on top of its massive head. This is how the trademark spray of seawater is formed when it surfaces or breaches - as it exhales through its spout, seawater is blasted upwards in a visible explosion.
It then inhales fresh air and submerses itself, or dives, once more. It can dive very deep and remain underwater for a long time. The main principle, though, is that, like a human diver, it must surface at some point in time to breathe.
The main threat to these animals has historically been human predation, or hunting. This is known technically as whaling. It used to be a very common activity in bygone times, but recently it has been prohibited by most nations. Japan is the exception to the rule, and Japanese ships annually hunt them. There has been opposition to this practice, but Japan claims that the whaling is performed in order to further research.
The traditional weapon used to hunt is the metal harpoon. The harpoon resembles a spear or javelin, and it is thrown or projected at the animal from the hunting ship or boat. In more primitive times, a smaller vessel or rowing boat was used to get close to the whale, and the sailor entrusted with the harpoon would then physically throw it at the whale. Sailors in the boat would wait expectantly for the whale to breach, which it would obviously have to do every so often.
Modern harpoons would sometimes have a grenade attached to them. The harpoon would penetrate into the animal and the grenade would then explode deep inside the its body, inflicting serious internal injuries or killing it in this way. Other harpoons used in the modern era were electrified, and would electrocute it in the sea. These harpoons were launched mechanically from the ship at high speed.
The effect of whaling on whale numbers was profound, and whales are now an endangered species. Their reproduction is particularly slow. Larger whale species sometimes have a gestation period of about two years. Japan simply refuses to stop all whaling expeditions, and Japanese vessels hunt a pre-approved number of animals every year. Other countries, however, have banned whaling entirely. If you get the chance to watch the whales, it is worth your while to take it.
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