Costa Rica News – Do you ever wonder how those large whale in the Pacific waters of Costa Rica eat? The blue whales that live along the Pacific coast of the US often feed in areas with lots of boats, endangering their species.
They feed on the shrimp that live in cold waters, and they go to the same place year after year to find it.
This pattern in finding food in the same location as boats, found in a study by the University of Oregon and the Santa Cruz California trackers, could be a reason for the decline in the numbers of blue whales.
The study followed 171 whales for 15 years. The total population in the area is believed to be between 500 and 2,000. The most intriguing finding was that the whales always followed the same route.
They try to increase their food intake in the early summer, before migrating for the winter. This desire for more food leads them to dangerous areas, where they have a high risk of colliding with ships.
The study group suggests that ships change itineraries for the months when whales are abundant in the area. These large animals, 30 meters in length and 20 tonnes in weight, can cause damage to ships, in addition to injuring themselves.
