What preys on a blue whale?
The killer whale is one of the only predators of the blue whale. However, only certain populations of this species include whales in their diets, which, just like their hunting techniques, vary from one population to another. Like a pack of wolves, killer whales work in coordinated teams when pursuing their prey.
What predators kill whales?
The primary predators of whales are human beings, sharks, and killer whales. The polar bear can attack whales, but humpback whales would be much too large for a single polar bear.
How do blue whales protect themselves from predators?
In addition to being a protective layer against would-be predators, blubber affords all whales protection against hypothermia. Heat loss in water is 27 times greater than on land and blubber helps to keep a whale’s body heat inside the animal. This fatty layer comprises 27 percent of the massive blue whale’s total body weight.
Are blue whales predators or prey?
The blue whale is the largest mammal in the world and has very few natural predators; in fact, the species’ main predator is generally considered to be humans, particularly in the form of collisions with large ships.
What is the blue whale’s enemy?
For the most part blue whales are too large to have any known natural predators. In fact the only known predators to attempt to attack a blue whale is a group of killer whale . While these instances are rare there have been people who have confirmed witnessing such attacks and even a few videos have been recorded showing a group of killer whales attacking a blue whale.
What is the prey of blue whale?
Blue whales eat some of the smallest organisms on Earth. Blue whales eat krill, which average about 2 inches in length. They also eat other small organisms, such as copepods. Blue whales can consume 4 tons of prey per day.