whale watching

Mini Guide to Whale Watching

By sarajean on 7/14/09 4:22am
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Whales are some of the most majestic creatures that have ever graced this earth. Did you know that the largest dinosaur would have only been half the size of the incredible blue whale? Watching whales is like seeing something much bigger than you are—both literally and figuratively. If you love whales and plan to go whale watching sometime soon, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

When you choose to go whale watching depends on the species you’re hoping to see. The best season to se an orca, or killer whale, is usually in the winter, and humpbacks are typically more viewable September through January. The gray whale is more unpredictable.

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Whale Washed up on New Zealand Beach

By sparklyscotty on 5/28/09 10:15am
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A rare blue whale has been found dead on a beach in New Zealand this week.   Blue whales are highly endangered,  with less than 2,000 thought to be left in the oceans.   The silver lining to this sad death is that the whale apparently died of old age, rather than being killed by any human activities or environmental changes.

The whale was found by a local fisherman who said that the whale measuring almost 90 feet was the largest he had ever seen.  Researchers are taking samples from the whale carcass in order to study more about the creatures,  although the whale's massive size means that it is not possible to transport the entire body.

Many types of whales and other large sea animals spend time in the warm South Pacific waters around New Zealand, and whale watching is one of the top tourist activities for the area, especially the South Island where blue whales, sperm whales, dolphins and seals can be spotted, often in large numbers.

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