Epic humpback whale battle filmed : "humpback whale heat run"

news ^ | 23 October 2009 | Matt Walker

[JoeProBono]

It is the greatest animal battle on the planet, and it has finally been caught on camera. A BBC natural history crew has filmed the "humpback whale heat run", where 15m long, 40 tonne male whales fight it out to mate with even larger females.

During the first complete sequence of this behaviour ever captured, the male humpbacks swim at high speed behind the female, violently jostling for access. The collisions between the males can be violent enough to kill.

[mikrofon]

Listed in the TV Guide as: Humpback Mountin'

[martin_fierro]

When a female humpback comes into heat, she alerts males by making sounds, such as slapping the water surface.

"Vould you like to touch my minke...?"

[anglian]

Thanks. That was Grrrreat.

[JoeProBono]