Blue whales are simply breathtaking animals. These incredibly large whales can be as long as five buses and as heavy as fifteen.
These stunning whales are a spectacle to witness in person, and it’s an animal that’s magnitude is rarely appreciated until seen up close.
In this post, we’re going to take a closer look at blue whales and find out the answer to a common question. Are blue whales friendly?
In a nutshell, yes, blue whales are friendly animals. These animals feed almost exclusively on krill, so have no interest in humans and are not a threat to us.
Let’s dive deeper…
Are Blue Whales Friendly With Humans?
It’s completely normal to assume that because of the blue whale’s size, it may be aggressive or hostile toward humans.
However, this is certainly not the case, and you should not be concerned about the presence of a blue whale. They are intelligent animals that are not a threat to humans.
Whilst whales can be dangerous at times, the circumstances where you may be injured by blue whales are incredibly rare.
For the most part, people are not going to be in close enough proximity to be injured or harmed by a whale, let alone a blue whale.
When divers do come across blue whales in the wild, they are so small that the whales do not feel any threat towards them.
After all, one tail flick from a blue whale and any human would be toast, but they are well aware that we are not a threat to them.
It’s also worth noting that blue whales feed almost exclusively on krill, and we are far too large for them to try to eat us.
Blue whales are actually quite friendly toward humans. They will sometimes interact with people and come incredibly close to divers or boats to get a closer look.
There really is no need to be afraid of a blue whales, although their gigantic size may be alarming for some, they are gentle giants that have no intention to harm humans.
Are Blue Whales Dangerous?
Blue whales are not a dangerous species, and there is no need to be alarmed or scared if you’re lucky enough to find yourself around a blue whale.
Although the size of the blue whale is breathtaking, they are incredibly elusive whales, so it’s rare for anyone to get so close to them that they could be dangerous.
These whales are still incredibly rare, so rare that they are sadly still endangered and there are thought to be no more than 25,000 living in the wild today.
Blue whales are not predatory animals and are in fact filter feeders that have a strict diet of krill.
However, as with all wild animals, the blue whale may defend itself if it feels threatened or in danger, especially around calves.
It’s always important to be vigilant and cautious around wild animals, especially ones of this size that have tremendous power.
Are Blue Whales Aggressive?
Blue whales are not aggressive whatsoever. As mentioned above, they are filter feeders and are not a predatory species, so they do not need to be aggressive to hunt like some other whales.
They are much more likely to dive deep out of the way of humans or predators than to become aggressive but will defend themselves against predators.
Blue whales will use their gigantic 3-meter-long tail to defend themselves against an oncoming attack from killer whales.
One accurate flick of a blue whale’s tail is enough to cause some serious damage to an Orca, which is a contributing factor to why most attacks on blue whales are unsuccessful.
As a whole, blue whales are certainly not aggressive, and it’s incredibly unlikely that they would attack or show aggression toward a human.
We are simply too small for the whale to feel threatened by us, and they are not aggressive animals by nature.
Are Blue Whales Gentle?
Blue whales are incredibly gentle. Despite their enormous size, when they move through the ocean it’s so graceful and elegant.
This species of whale rarely breaches and makes a scene, they are incredibly calm and smooth swimmers that have real grace about them.
Even when they are about to dive and their large tail comes to the surface, there is no splash. They move in a completely fluid motion that is incredible to witness.
The blue whale is an animal that can truly claim the title of being a gentle giant.
Final Thoughts
So, are blue whales friendly? Yes, they certainly are. These gentle giants are incredibly graceful and can be rather curious toward humans.
If you are lucky enough to come across a blue whale, then thank you’re lucky stars, and do not be afraid of this magnificent whale.
Divers have even been known to get in the water and dive alongside blue whales, making for an experience that will certainly stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Sadly the blue whale is still an endangered species, so coming into contact with one is incredibly rare.
This is why coming across a blue whale in the wild is such a magical experience, as not many people get to see these animals in the flesh.
They are a non-aggressive, friendly species that cause no threat to humans.
Hopefully, this post has been insightful into how friendly blue whales are and you’ve learned something new today about the largest animal that has ever lived.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post and feel free to stick around to learn more about blue whales and other marine life.
Hi, I’m George – the founder of MarinePatch. I created this blog as marine wildlife has been my passion for many years. I’ve spent over a decade in the marine wildlife industry and spent years out in the field conducting research. In today’s modern world, an online blog is the best place for me to share my findings and reach as many people as possible to help educate and inspire others. Enjoy your time here and you’re welcome back anytime!