How Do Whales Protect Themselves?
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A Whale's Enemies
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A whale does not have many enemies. The toothed killer whales dominate the ocean. The large great whales of the ocean are large enough to scare away most predators. Sharks, killer whales and human activity are the main enemies of whales.
How the Great Whales Protect Themselves
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Baleen whales are the great whales of the ocean. Sperm whales, even though they are toothed whales, are also considered among the giants.
Great whales have their large size and a thick layer of fat to help protect them from enemies. Baleen whales are also very fast, and they use their powerful tails and fins to swipe at an enemy. A baluga whale can toss a killer whale high into the air with its powerful tail.
Sharks and killer whales are the main predator of baleen whales, but usually only the small and weak are at risk. A pod of killer whales will chase a young or weak whale until the whale is worn out. The killer whales will then circle the weak whale or a mother and her baby. The pod will try to drown its prey by preventing it from going to the surface for air. -
How the Toothed Whales Protect Themselves
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Though the killer whale does not have many enemies, dolphins and other small whales do. Sharks and killer whales often prey upon small whales. When an enemy approaches, a dolphin will "play dead" and lie still in the ocean. A shark likes to eat fresh meat and is likely to leave the dolphin alone.
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- Photo Credit Christine Goudie
