Blue Whales: Ocean Giants and Their Astonishing Appetite
The gigantic marine mammal, the blue whale, has long fascinated scientists for its immense size and feeding habits. Growing up to 33 meters long and weighing an astounding 181 metric tons, these whales are true ocean giants. Yet until recently, their daily appetite remained uncertain.
Unprecedented Study on Whale Feeding
Led by Mathew Savoca of Stanford University, a team of scientists studied 321 whales, including blue whales, humpback, fin, bowhead, and arctic whales, across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Southern oceans. Their findings revealed that these whales consume over three times the amount previously estimated.
Daily Diet of the Blue Whale
On average, a blue whale eats 14.5 metric tons of krill each day — equivalent to the weight of a fully-loaded school bus. Krill are small crustaceans resembling tiny shrimp. According to co-author Nick Pyenson, this massive consumption highlights just how blue whales surpass even the largest dinosaurs in size, rivaling the dimensions of a Boeing 737 airplane.
Methods of Measurement
The research team used advanced tagging devices attached to the whales’ backs, along with cameras, microphones, GPS devices, and drones. Drone footage helped estimate the size of whales’ mouths and how much food they can engulf in a single feeding.
Variations in Diet
While the largest whales primarily feed on krill, smaller species such as humpback whales consume krill or fish. Most baleen whales feed intensively for about 100 days per year, typically during the summer mating season, and eat relatively little for the remainder of the year. With daily consumption at 14.5 metric tons, a blue whale consumes approximately 1,450 metric tons of food annually.
