See the Moment a Huge Humpback Whale Surfaces and “Engulfs” Kayakers – And They Live to Tell the Tale

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The ocean is an incredible yet nerve-wracking world unto itself. Its unexplored depths are home to creatures still unknown to us, and the sea can be fickle and change unexpectedly. That is precisely what happened to the two kayakers in this video. One moment they were paddling across calm ocean waters, and the next, they were plunged into darkness — inside a humpback whale! How did they survive? Let’s take a closer look!

How Big Are Humpback Whales?

Humpback whales are a significant member of the Rorqual family, a group of baleen whales, but they are not the largest; the blue whale holds that title. These impressive creatures typically range from 42 to 50 feet long and can weigh a staggering 40 tons (80,000 pounds). To put their size into perspective, they are about half the size of the world’s largest whale, the blue whale, but roughly twice the size of an orca or killer whale. And that’s just the whales in the Northern Hemisphere. Humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere often grow even larger, with some reaching lengths of 60 feet!

Are Humpback Whales Aggressive or Dangerous?

Despite their colossal size, humpback whales are generally gentle creatures and rarely, if ever, attack humans unless provoked. Humpback whales are generally not aggressive towards humans and are known to be curious, sometimes approaching boats. Their intelligent and curious nature, however, can occasionally lead them to approach boats for a closer look.

Humpback whales live in oceans worldwide, with the largest populations in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, Indian, and Southern (Antarctic) Oceans. They are known for extensive migrations, but spend much of their time in coastal waters near shore, as seen in the video above.

While humpback whales are not aggressive, their sheer size can pose a risk to humans, especially during breaching. These whales are quite acrobatic and can launch their massive bodies out of the water with surprising power. Although they are usually aware of their surroundings, there have been a few very rare instances where a breaching whale accidentally collided with a nearby fishing boat.

What Do Humpback Whales Eat?

Why did the humpback whale in the video above engulf the two human kayakers? It’s important to clarify that the whale didn’t actually “swallow” or “eat” them — they simply entered its mouth. Humpback whales, despite their gargantuan size, eat very small prey like krill and plankton. To sustain their massive bodies, however, they must consume a lot of this food — up to 3,000 pounds every single day!

Humpback whales have developed unique feeding techniques to help them meet their meal quotas. As baleen whales, they can expand their throats like large balloons, allowing them to engulf a lot of water at a time. They then use hundreds of baleen plates to filter the water out, trapping krill and other small fish inside their mouths to eat.

In the video, the whale was engaged in this feeding process, surfacing with its mouth wide open to collect water and food. The kayakers, unfortunately, found themselves within the whale’s feeding zone and were inadvertently drawn into its mouth. Fortunately, however, humans are not part of a humpback whale’s diet, and the whale quickly realized its mistake and released the kayakers unharmed.