Blue Whale in Costa Rica
October 30th, 2012
Whale watching is a popular recreational activity in the pacific coast of Costa Rica. There are numerous sorts of cetaceans residing in the Pacific Ocean that borders a number of regions of Costa Rica. Besides a countless number of oceanic dolphins, there are quite a few species of baleens in the pacific coast, which includes sei whales (pronounced as ‘say’). There name is derived from an island of Norway where these whales first appeared. The sei whale, also known as Balaenoptera borealis, is a type of baleen whale. It is the third largest of existing rorquals, exceeded in size by blue whale and fin whale. They are present in most oceans and seas, they prefer living in deep, offshore waters, and avoid the inshore and coastal areas. The sei whales migrate annually. In summer, they move to cool and sub-polar areas while in winter, they migrate to temperate and subtropical waters. They are known to evade polar and tropical water and estuaries as well. The body of sei whale is of dark steely grey color with irregular light grey and white patches on the ventral surface and on front surface of the lower body. On the ventral surface, they have a set of 32 to 60 folds that spread midway to the pectoral fins and umbilicus. Their bodies have a pair of blow-holes, a characteristic feature of all baleen whales. The dorsal fins are tall and sickle shaped that are 15 to 35 inches in length. The whales have a thick tail and the fluke is smaller relative to the body length. The body is often scarred and wounded. The injuries are aid to be caused by an ectoparasitic copepod, and also by cookie cutter sharks.
Rather than having teeth like baleen whales, the adult sei whales have 300 to 380 charcoal black baleen plates on both sides of the mouth. The keratin plate is bordered by very fine bristles of 0.1 mm. They help to filter the food. Their average height is about 64 feet and weight is 28 tonnes! Their diet consists of copepods, krills, sea anemones, jellyfish and other zoo-planktons. They can eat up to 900 kilograms of food daily. They are considered as one of the fastest cetaceans with a speed of 50 kilometers an hour. Sei whales are found in offshore deep waters in a group of 2 to 5. The breeding season occurs in winters in temperate, subtropical areas. Gestation period varies on the type of fetal growth. The newborn sei whales are weaned for 6 to 9 months. The age of maturity is 8 to 10 years for both genders. The lifespan of sei whale is up to 65 years! Due to extensive whaling, the number has increasingly declined, and they are now placed under the international protection.
Sei Whales in Pacific Coast of Costa Rica
Sei Whales are sighted on Drake Bay all around the year, especially in the months of May to August. Drake Bay is located on the north side of Osa Peninsula. The bay is ideally secluded and has a covey of pristine white sand beaches, coves perfect for scuba diving and the waters rich with sea animals. Osa Peninsula is the southernmost peninsula of Costa Rica. The natural paradise has the most sublime setting of lush and vibrant rain forests, glorious beaches and crystal clear lagoons. The national park in Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park, is home to several endangered animals and birds. Scuba diving and whale watching in Osa Peninsula are amazing experiences, and during the summer months, sei whales are frequently spotted. Marine Ballena National Park in Uvita offers tours for observing the whales. Other sites where sei whales are present are Nicoya Peninsula, Cocos Island, Gulf of Papagayo, Violines Islands and Golfo Dulce.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mJtP_jSWVk-A]
References:
http://www.drakebay.info/vidamarina.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sei_whale
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