Quick Facts
Facts sourced from Wikidata (CC0).
Best Months to Spot
Most sightings recorded in Jan. Data from GBIF - a global database of verified wildlife observations by researchers and citizen scientists.
Conservation Status
Conservation hubFaces a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Blue whales face threats from ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, which continue to impact their populations. While international whaling bans have allowed some recovery, their numbers remain critically low. Responsible whale watching tours, by adhering to strict guidelines and contributing to research, help minimize disturbance and raise awareness for the protection of these magnificent giants.
The blue whale is a species of baleen whale and the largest marine mammal in the rorqual family Balaenopteridae. Reaching a maximum confirmed length of 29.9–30.5 m (98–100 ft) and weighing up to 190–200 t, it is the largest animal known to have ever existed. The blue whale's long and slender body can be of various shades of greyish-blue on its upper surface and somewhat lighter underneath. Four subspecies are recognized: B. m. musculus in the North Atlantic and North Pacific, B. m. intermedia in the Southern Ocean, B. m. brevicauda in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, and B. m. indica in the Northern Indian Ocean. There is a population in the waters off Chile that may constitute a fifth subspecies.
Description adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to Find
Top parks for Blue Whale. Sightings recorded in 16 safari areas total.
Best Safari Destinations
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