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  • Pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) diving into the blue, with pelagic fish (likely yellowfin tuna or similar open ocean predatory species) visible in the background
    pygmy-blue-whale-balaenoptera-muscul...tif
  • This is an adult pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) entangled in a fishing net. The net was wrapped around the base of the whale's fluke, with substantial net and rope trailing behind. As is visible in this image, rope stretched up both sides of the whale and appeared to be caught in the whale's mouth. I came across this whale in shallow, green, murky water, approximately 60 meters depth. The whale was still able to swim, though it appeared exhausted. It did not fluke, and the netting was not visible from the surface. Sadly, this whale most likely died shortly after this encounter.
    blue-whale-entangled-fishing-net-bal...tif
  • Very close pass with a pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) in murky water. Note the patches of white pigmentation on the right nostril and left dorsal area. These make this whale easy to recognize, even from above water.
    pygmy-blue-whale-balaenoptera-muscul...tif
  • Dorsal view of a pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda)
    pygmy-blue-whale-dorsal-view-201502-...tif
  • This is an adult pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) entangled in a fishing net. The net was wrapped around the base of the whale's fluke, with substantial net and rope trailing behind. Rope stretched up both sides of the whale and appeared to be caught in the whale's mouth. I came across this whale in shallow, green, murky water, approximately 60 meters depth. The whale was still able to swim, though it appeared exhausted. It did not fluke, and the netting was not visible from the surface. Sadly, this whale most likely died shortly after this encounter.
    blue-whale-entangled-fishing-net-sri...tif
  • Pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) swimming at high speed, its fluke slicing through the water as the whale executed a rapid turn before diving into the deep.
    pygmy-blue-whale-balaenoptera-muscul...tif
  • Dead blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) floating at the ocean surface. This whale was most likely killed by a ship strike that took place in the shipping lanes just south of Sri Lanka. Container ships and other large boats use these shipping lanes day-in and day-out. The shipping lanes are situated in the middle of feeding grounds for blue whales and other cetaceans, which dive down to deep water to forage for krill and other food. Photo taken under permit.
    dead-blue-whale-Balaenoptera-musculu...tif
  • Indian Ocean blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) returning to deeper water to forage for krill after a brief surface interval to replenish air supply.
    blue-whale-indian-ocean-balaenoptera...tif
  • Fluke of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving to forage for krill in deep water. Note the distinctive crease on the whale's dorsal surface, just behind the dorsal fin. This, plus several white spots on this whale's body (including the two white spots visible on the top of the right fluke), made this individual easy to recognize. Photograph taken under permit.
    blue-whale-fluke-sri-lanka-Balaenopt...tif
  • Large adult pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) diving into the blue, perhaps to forage for food. Photographed in Sri Lanka.
    pygmy-blue-whale-balaenoptera-muscul...tif
  • Indian Ocean blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) swimming into the blue. From this angle the substantial width of the fluke is apparent, and some of the whale’s musculature that powers the fluke is also visible.
    blue-whale-balaenoptera-musculus-ind...tif
  • Profile of a pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) commencing a dive to forage for food
    blue-whale-balaenoptera-musculus-bre...tif
  • This is a friendly blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) that approached the boat each time it surfaced after a twenty to thirty minute foraging dive. In total, I had seven in-water encounters with this blue whale over several hours, ending only because it was getting late and we had to head back to port.
    blue-whale-balaenoptera-musculus-ind...tif
  • Pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) commencing its descent to forage for krill in the Indian Ocean, south of Sri Lanka.
    blue-whale-balaenoptera-musculus-bre...tif
  • A pair of blue whales swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    201104_Mirissa_Underwater_0377.tif
  • Fluke of a diving pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) with several remoras attached.
    blue-whale-fluke-with-remoras-201502...tif
  • Fluke of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving to forage for krill in deep water. Note the distinctive crease on the whale's dorsal surface, just behind the dorsal fin. This, plus several white spots on this whale's body (including the two white spots visible on the right fluke), made this individual easy to recognize. Photograph taken under permit.
    blue-whale-fluke-Balaenoptera-muscul...tif
  • A pair of blue whales swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    blue-whales-blue-water-sri-lanka-201...tif
  • A pygmy blue whale swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. There was a pair engaged in social activity at the surface. The two dived and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    pygmy-blue-whale-sri-lanka-201104-03...tif
  • A pair of blue whales swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    sri-lanka-blue-whales-201104-0376.tif
  • A pair of blue whales swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    pygmy-blue-whales-in-sri-lanka-20110...tif
  • A pair of blue whales swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    sri-lanka-pygmy-blue-whales-201104-0...tif
  • Top-down view of two blue whales, just after they swam past. This pair may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    Pygmy-blue-whales-diving-sri-lanka-2...tif
  • A pygmy blue whale swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. There was a pair engaged in social activity at the surface. The two dived and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    pygmy-blue-whale-in-sri-lanka-201104...tif
  • Blue whale calf (Balaenoptera musculus) swimming beside its mother
    blue-whale-female-calf-cortez-201302...tif
  • Top-down view of two blue whales, just after they swam past. This pair may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    Two-pygmy-blue-whales-sri-lanka-2011...tif
  • Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving next to a whale watching boat in the Sea of Cortez, Baja Peninsula, Mexico
    blue-whale-boat-sea-cortez-mexico-20...tif
  • This is the fluke of a well-known blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) nicknamed Nubbin that has been sighted repeatedly in the Sea of Cortez. The distinctive scars and indentations on this whale's fluke provide an unambiguous reference for identification. Note the scratches, which were most likely the result of an encounter with orcas.
    blue-whale-injured-fluke-baja-penins...tif
  • Pectoral fin of a dead blue whale, with a remora attached. This whale was most likely hit and killed by a large commercial vessel, which left a gaping wound in the cetacean's caudal area. Ship strikes may happen frequently in this area, just south of Mirissa in southern Sri Lanka. The shipping lanes here are very busy, with ships traveling at high speed through the feeding grounds of blue whales and other cetaceans.
    dead-blue-whale-pectoral-fin-Balaeno...tif
  • A blue whale diving down to feed on krill in the Indian Ocean, south of Sri Lanka. This whale was relatively inquisitive, proactively approaching on several occasions, and swimming along underneath our boat in one instance. This whale is easily recognizable by the white patch on the left side of its head. It also has a white area on the right side of its nose, two white spots on the right side of its fluke, and a large, visible indentation on the dorsal surface of its caudal region. Photograph taken under permit.
    blue-whale-diving-Balaenoptera-muscu...tif
  • Close-up view of the throat grooves on a dead blue whale, found in the Indian Ocean of Sri Lanka. The whale was most likely the victim of a ship strike by a large container vessel. The main shipping channel south of Sri Lanka passes directly through feeding grounds of blue whales and other cetaceans, which gather in the area to feed on aggregations of krill in deep water. Photo taken under permit.
    throat-grooves-blue-whale-Balaenopte...tif
  • This is the pectoral fin of a dead blue whale, found floating in the Indian Ocean south of Sri Lanka. Blue whales have relatively short pectoral fins in relation to their body size. This whale was probably killed by a ship strike in the busy shipping lanes that run directly through blue whale feeding grounds. Photo taken under permit.
    pectoral-fin-blue-whale-Balaenoptera...tif
  • Large wound in the caudal region of a dead blue whale found in southern Sri Lanka. The whale was male. The wound was most likely the result of a direct collision from the bow of a large commercial vessel traveling in the major shipping lanes just south of Sri Lanka. These shipping lanes run directly through the feeding grounds of blue whales and other cetaceans. Photo taken under permit.
    dead-blue-whale-collision-container-...tif
  • This is an adult pygmy blue whale entangled in a fishing net. The net was wrapped around the base of the whale's fluke, with substantial net and rope trailing behind. Rope stretched up both sides of the whale and appeared to be caught in the whale's mouth. I came across this whale in shallow, green, murky water, approximately 60 meters depth. The whale was still able to swim, though it appeared exhausted. It did not fluke, and the netting was not visible from the surface. Sadly, this whale most likely died shortly after this encounter.
    entangled-pygmy-blue-whale-fishing-n...tif
  • Some of the prime feeding areas for blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) in waters of Sri Lanka coincide with commercial shipping lanes that pass to the south of the country, which are among the most heavily trafficked in the world. This overlap of cetacean foraging territory and commercial shipping traffic creates the potential for lethal ship strikes.
    blue-whale-shipping-lane-sri-lanka-b...tif
  • Head-on view of a dead blue whale, floating in the Indian Ocean south of Sri Lanka. The cause of death was most likely a ship strike, with a large vessel colliding with the caudal region of the whale. The carcass was relatively fresh, as there was no significant bloating and minimal decomposition. Photo taken under permit.
    ship-strike-dead-blue-whale-Balaenop...tif
  • Rear view of a blue whale killed by a ship strike in the Indian Ocean, south of Sri Lanka. This region is a feeding area for blue whales and other cetaceans. It is also a major shipping lane, with large container vessels and other big ships traveling through the feeding grounds on a constant basis. The large wound in the whale's caudal region may have been caused by a head-on collision by one of these ships. Photo taken under permit.
    blue-whale-killed-by-ship-strike-sri...tif
  • Close-up view of the blowholes of a deceased blue whale. The whale was most likely struck and killed by a large commercial vessel. Major shipping lanes pass through the middle of blue whale feeding grounds to the south of Sri Lanka. Photo taken under permit.
    blowholes-blue-whale-sri-lanka-Balae...tif
  • The shipping lanes south of Sri Lanka are among the busiest in the world. Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) and other cetaceans often congregate in these shipping lanes to feed on krill below. The potential for lethal ship strikes is clear.
    blue-whale-shipping-lane-sri-lanka-b...tif
  • This is a male blue whale killed by a ship strike, floating at the ocean surface, in the Indian Ocean south of Sri Lanka. There is a high volume of container ship and other large vessel traffic in this area, with the ships traveling directly through the feeding grounds of blue whales and other cetaceans. Ship strikes are perhaps a regular occurence. Photo taken under permit.
    dead-blue-whale-killed-ship-strike-B...tif
  • This was a young, relatively friendly blue whale. Over the course of several hours, this whale approached the boat I was in seven times when it surfaced from feeding in deeper water. From this angle, the whale’s powerful, well-muscled caudal region is visible. The whale’s flexibility and sinuous S-curve swimming motion is also apparent.
    blue-whale-caudal-musculature-sinuou...tif
  • Frontal view of a dead blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) in Sri Lanka. Major shipping lanes for container vessels and other large ships pass directly through blue whale feeding grounds. As a result, ship strikes may happen on a regular basis. This whale died from a large wound that cut away a major portion of its caudal region. Photo taken under permit.
    ship-strike-dead-blue-whale-sri-lank...tif
  • Dorsal fin of a blue whale. Note the distinctive crease on the dorsal surface behind the dorsal fin. This, plus several white spots on this whale's body (including the two white spots visible on the right fluke), made this individual easy to recognize. Photograph taken under permit.
    blue-whale-dorsal-fin-Balaenoptera-m...tif
  • This is the genital slit of a dead blue whale, found floating south of Mirissa in Sri Lanka. The tip of the whale's penis appears to be protruding from the animal. The whale was most likely struck by one of the many container ships in the busy shipping lanes that coincide with the feeding grounds of blue whales and other cetaceans in the area. Other photos of this whale show a deep scar in the whale's caudal area, suggestive of a direct bow strike by a large commercial ship. Photograph taken under permit.
    dead-blue-whale-genital-slit-penis-B...tif
  • This male blue whale was most likely killed by a ship strike. There is a large wound in the animal's caudal area, suggesting a direct bow strike by a large vessel. There is a high level of shipping traffic south of Sri Lanka, where container vessels and other large ships travel through shipping lanes on a continuous basis. These shipping lanes are situated in the middle of feeding grounds for blue whales and other cetaceans, putting these animals at high risk of ship strikes. Photo taken under permit.
    dead-blue-whale-floating-ocean-surfa...tif
  • My friend holding up fresh pygmy blue whale defecation. The brilliant orange-red color of the blue whale poop derives from krill diet of the cetacean.
    ron-leidich-holding-blue-whale-defec...tif
  • This is a dead blue whale, probably killed by a ship strike from a large commercial ship, much like the one visible in the background. Major shipping lanes pass directly through the feeding grounds of blue whales and other cetaceans in southern Sri Lanka, increasing the chances for fatal ship strikes like this. This whale was male, with the cause of death being a wound to the animal's caudal area. Photo taken under permit.
    dead-blue-whale-container-ship-india...tif
  • Close-up view of the fluke of a pygmy blue whale. I had nine consecutive encounters with this inquisitive whale. During a couple of the encounters, the whale allowed me to swim along with it and even directly above it as if I were a remora. I was only able to do this because the whale slowed down to let me keep pace as it swam along at minimal speed near the surface. This was a mature whale, length exceeding 20 meters.
    blue-whale-fluke-underwater-close-up...tif
  • This is blue whale feces, discharged by a whale that had surfaced after feeding on krill in deep water in southern Sri Lanka. The neon red-orange color of the defecation is due to the whale's krill-based diet. The feces dissolve rapidly, as is apparent from the fizzing around the large clumps in this image. Photo taken under permit.
    blue-whale-feces-krill-Balaenoptera-...tif
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