Dear Colleagues,
We would like to draw your attention to the following new footage and
information
**Fin whales lunge feeding off the coast of Garraf, Barcelona, Spain
**
*Barcelona, 6 April 2018 –*The EDMAKTUB research team filmed exceptional
images that have never been seen before of two fin whales feeding at the
surface in the Mediterranean Sea. The images were recorded off the coast
of Garraf (Catalonia, south of Barcelona, northestern Spain) where
numerous whales have been sighted feeding over recent days.
*You can see the video here*: https://youtu.be/_zoFWpNcEh8
*Images never seen before*. This is the first time aerial images have
been recorded showing this behaviour on the part of the species
(Balaenoptera physalus) in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to the
extraordinary quality of the images, this video is also of great
scientific importance. It provides valuable information regarding how
these animals feed, which will allow us to better understand their diet
as well as their feeding behaviour.
It can clearly be seen that the whales repeat the same behaviour up to
six times in the video.The whales turn on their side, and speed up
before opening their vast mouths to trap several tons of water inside,
which swells their bodies from the jaw to the middle section. Next, they
close their mouths, expelling the water through their baleen plates,
filtering out the food which they will then swallow. Within seconds, the
body returns to its usual slender form.
*Large numbers of whales this season*. All of the images which appear in
the two-and-a-half minute video come from the same sequence, which
originally lasted some five minutes in total. As the video begins, a
single whale appears, and then later, a second animal rises from deeper
waters. In addition, that day ten individual whales were observed
feeding in the same area.
*Scientific results*. The fin whale is a migratory species which visits
the Catalan Coast to feed during the spring months. Since 2013, the
EDMAKTUB Organisation has been studying these animals whenever ocean
conditions that allow its presence through their Fin Whale Project.
During that time, they have been able to establish that the Balearic Sea
is an area where these whales come to feed. Up to now, it was believed
that the animals were simply passing through these waters. The Fin Whale
Project is supported by the Barcelona Zoo Foundation and the Vilanova
Sailing Club (Club Nàutic Vilanova).
*More information*regarding the findings of the Fin Whale Project can be
found in ANNUAL REPORT. This includes a detailed description of the
Project and its results up to 2017:http://www.edmaktub.org/en/annual-report/
--------------------------------
EDMAKTUB Association
www.edmaktub.org <http://www.edmaktub.com>
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