Passengers on the National Geographic Endurance cruise ship were able to see over a thousand baleen whales in one place. According to National Geographic, the cruise participants witnessed a rare sight: such a large gathering of whales has not been seen for more than 100 years.
The video was filmed back in January 2022 near Antarctica. “North of Coronation Island, a real miracle awaited us,” said zoologist and crew member Conor Ryan. “To the very horizon, the water was filled with whales.”
The liner approached closer, and, as the passengers testify, they were surrounded by the characteristic sounds from the fountains of steam and water thrown out by them. And from the breath of the whales, as noted, “camera lenses and glasses fogged up.”
Baleen whales congregate near Coronation Island, as these waters are rich in their delicacy, krill, on which they feed. This type of whale is second in size only to blue whales, the largest mammals on the planet.
In the twentieth century, as a result of whaling, the whale population was critically reduced, putting the entire species on the brink of extinction.