February 16 – World Whales Day! Whales - giants of the oceans and deep seas

Whales are giant mammals that live in the oceans and deep seas. There are two types of whales in the world. 1. Toothed Whales. 2. Baleen whales. Toothed whales have blowhole and teeth. They use their teeth to catch their prey, whereas, baleen whales have giant, fringed bristles hanging down from their upper jaws.

5 important varieties of whales:

Though there are many types of whales in the world, let us see 5 important types of whales which are unique in their features.

1. Blue Whale:

The blue whale is the largest animal on the earth. It can grow up to 30 meters (100 feet) long, which is as long as a school bus. They eat tiny fish and plankton, and they can eat up to 40 million krill in a single day. Blue whales are found in all oceans except the Arctic Ocean.

2. Minke Whale:

The Minke whale is considered to be the smallest baleen whale. It grows up to 12 meters (40 feet) long. It's very curious and often approaches boats to say hello. It eats small fish and krill, and they can be found in oceans all around the world.

3. Narwhal:

The Narwhal is often called the 'unicorn of the sea' because of its unique tusk. The tusk is actually a very long tooth which can grow up to 3 meters (10 feet) long. Narwhals are found in the Arctic waters and eat arctic cod and other fish. They can grow up to 16 feet long and are very shy creatures.

4. Humpback Whale:

Humpback whales live in all oceans around the world. They travel great distances every year. The humpback whale is known for its beautiful singing voice. It sings songs loudly, musically that can be heard for miles underwater. They love to jump out of the water, doing flips and tricks. They can grow up to 18 meters (60 feet) long. Their favorite meals are small fish.

5. Sperm Whale:

The Sperm whale has the biggest brain of any animal on Earth. It's known for its big head, which can be up to one-third of its body length. These whales eat giant squid, which can be as big as a car. They can grow up to 20 meters (66 feet) long. Sperm whales are very social and live in large groups.

Though the Whales live in the oceans , the oceans are not as healthy today as they once were. Oceans have become polluted by toxic materials such as chemicals, oil spills, plastics and industrial waste. They are the great threat to the whale populations.

So on February 16, World Whale day is celebrated to make an awareness of saving the wonderful creatures of the world.