Gray Whale

The gray whale is a remarkable migratory mammal found in the North Pacific Ocean. These baleen whales can reach lengths of up to 15 meters (50 feet) and weigh around 36 tons. Gray whales are known for their epic migrations, traveling up to 20,000 kilometers (12,400 miles) round trip each year between feeding grounds in the Arctic and breeding lagoons in Mexico.

Gray whales are bottom feeders, using their baleen plates to filter small crustaceans and other organisms from sediment on the ocean floor. This unique feeding behavior stirs up nutrients, benefiting other marine life.

Although gray whales were once hunted to near extinction, conservation efforts have allowed their populations to recover in some regions. However, they still face threats from ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and habitat changes caused by climate change.