When the general public heard about such a strange event as a humpback whale capsizing a boat, people were both surprised and amazed.
This image of a huge creature capsizing a boat appears to be rather exotic; nonetheless, there actually lies a factual basis for this kind of behavior of a whale. Here we present an analysis of the events in order to find out what has occurred in fact.
Understanding Humpback Whale Behavior
Despite the fact that humpback whales show variable behaviors such as breaching, tail-slapping, vocalizations, and others, they are understood for their complex ones.
All of these behaviors are thought to be relevant to communication, navigation, and probably social interaction. Jumping, or breaching, where a whale surges out of the water and falls back in is more extensive and rather risky in some instances.
Ball et al. (2001) conclude that in their natural environment, humpback whales are not likely to become aggressive toward boats. While they do not actively hunt humans, their volume and rate of movement make them extremely dangerous for the very simple reason that any contact, intentional or otherwise, is fatal.
When a whale comes to the surface, especially near a boat, its weight and the force it uses to crash into the water can easily cause waves that may affect the boat.
The Incident: A Closer Look
In the most recent incident, a humpback whale that may have been involved in breaching or lobbing overturned a small boat. Witnesses and marine experts attest that the whale actually jumped out of the water and splattered heavily on the surface.
The effect produced a blast that capsized the boat, flipping its occupants into the water.
The boat is described to be a fairly small one, and the nature of the disturbance was stated to be abrupt and forceful enough, which had made the boat unprepared to handle it. The action of the whale was a dangerous one, although it was the action of an animal that I would guess did not know what it was doing.
Fortunately, the occupants of the boat were rescued soon, but this is a pointer that interaction with marine wild animals may at times be very detrimental.
Contributing Factors: Boat Size and Whale Behavior
There were some causes that led to the incident. First of all, the size and the type of the boat mattered outmost because they determined the actions to follow. Being relatively small boats, they tend to capsize easily whenever water waves are produced nearby large aquatic animals.
It is possible that the enormous force produced by the whale breach could have been contained in a larger vessel without tipping it over.
Second of all, this could also be blamed on the conduct of the whale. Despite the fact that humpback whales are not predators, their mighty actions can be potentially dangerous for boats.
Therefore, the breach that the whale displayed may have resulted from the whale’s everyday or social interaction behavior, which is in line with its natural tendency. But thanks to its location next to the boat, it transformed a normally occurring activity into a dangerous occurrence.
Preventive Measures and Conclusion
Such incidences serve to point out the necessity of keeping safe distance from giant sea creatures. Interaction with the whales has been authorized, but it is stated that boat operators should maintain a safe distance that would not interfere with the whales in any way.
Efforts in creating awareness and promoting safe practices regarding marine animals include programs that may be created to educate the general public or anybody interested in marine wildlife, as well as boat operators who may be involved in cases of accidents with the animals.
Therefore, the picture of the humpback whale overturning the boat might look more like the plot of the fantastic story, but it serves as the powerful statement of the non-tamed nature’s forces.
This knowledge of their natural behaviors and how they respond to human presence will go a long way in avoiding interference with these beautiful animals, hence the need to learn their habits to keep us safe from harm or harm them in the process.
ASH CK