Wild West Cork is a series of films produced by Cojo Films looking at the marine wildlife in the West Cork coastline.
The third episode of the series takes a look at the humpback whale, one of the largel rorqual species. Adults can get up to 52ft in length, and up to 79,000lbs. The distinctive body shape of the whale features long pectoral fins and a knobbly head.
The humpback whale is known for breaching and similar surface behaviors. That is why the humpback whale is popular among whale watchers.
Found in oceans and seas around the world, they migrate up to 16,000 miles every year. They feed in polar waters, and migrate to tropical or subtropical waters to breed. Their diet is mostly small fish and krill.
Up until 1996, the humpback whale was hunted as part of the whaling industry. Their population fell to just 10%. Since then, there is a moratorium on hunting the humpback whale. Estimates are that there are approximately 80,000 living humpback whales in the wild.
