08/10/2022
Whales are known for lunge feeding, in which they open their mouths, accelerate to “take in 10 SUVs worth of water and fish and then everything else.” For baleen whales, which humpbacks are, they have a giant strainer in their mouths which only very small fish can pass through. A diver would have nowhere to go. And if even the diver made it to the whale’s esophagus to be swallowed (which is nearly impossible), the esophagus is far too narrow.
Still, you don’t want to be swallowed by a whale, even if later you’d be able to sell the movie rights. And some whales, toothed whales, could conceivably swallow a human, like the s***m whale in Moby Dick. If you are concerned here are five tips to avoid be swallowed or even injured by accident by a whale.
Don’t jump into a tank with any captive whale if you’re not a whale trainer. Two of the four deaths by orcas are linked to bystanders falling into a tank of a captive animal. Having said that orcas or killer whales aren’t true whales but actually members of the dolphin family.
Don’t purposefully look like a seal, shark or giant squid.Orcas for example actively hunt seals, and several whale species and orcas may attack sharks. S***m whales do hunt giant squid.
Never Get Between a Pair of Mating Whales. The frisky whales don’t so much care about privacy but might not be aware of your presence. Stuck between two mating whales is not a place where you want to be.
Stay clear of whales actively feeding. This goes for all whales and dolphins, and most animals – even our best friends. Not everyone feels safe reaching into the dog bowl while a dog has dinner, why would you disturb a feeding whale?
The most dangerous whales are dead ones – in the water attracting sharks or on land attracting biting insects.
