Despite their size of it , whales are remarkably graceful and can make even the most mundane activity look like a beautifully choreographed body of water show . In a clipping filmed by researchers atAuckland University of Technology(AUT ) in New Zealand , an approximately 39 - foot - long adult Bryde ’s whale and a immature sura are shown feasting on plankton off the seacoast of the island . The footage was captured using a drone custom build by AUT scientists .
The footage read the whales swimming near the surface of the water before turn over on to their sides to open their mouths to feed . The cetaceans ’ accordion - like throats can be watch expanding as they take in hundreds of Imperial gallon of piss . According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , the Bryde ’s whales ’ diet includesproteinslike krill , shrimp , copepods , and pelagic crabs , as well as school day of herring , mackerel , and sardines .
Bryde ’s ( say BROO - duhs ) whales arenamed afterthe Norwegian whaling ship Johan Bryde , who established whaling stations in South Africa in the early 20th century . Though industrial whaling eradicate populations of the world ’s large blower , including gloomy , sei , Megaptera novaeangliae , and fin giant , they and Bryde ’s whale are now protected by international agreements and the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act , which makes it illegal to “ hunt club , harass , gaining control , or killany marine mammal ” or even attempt these actions .
Bryde ’s whales are among the rarified cetacean species . They have a immense range across the world ’s tropic , semitropical , and temperate oceans , but they are threatened by submerged DOE geographic expedition , ocean noise , vessel strikes , and defilement . According to AUT , they ’re “ critically threatened ” in New Zealand , with fewer than 200 believe in the region .
Scientists recently discovered that a subspecies of Bryde ’s whale that survive exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico is actually its own species , now named Rice ’s whale ( Balaenoptera ricei ) . It , too , is critically endangered , with perhapsas few as 50 in universe .
This is far from the first clip monotone have assist scientists learn more about heavyweight — they’ve even helpedcollect their snob .
A rendering of this article was earlier publish in 2016 and has been updated for 2023 .
