Description
c.2025, acrylic on canvas
Size: 1010W x 76D
Humpback whales and orcas occupy distinct roles within marine ecosystems. Humpbacks are baleen whales, primarily consuming small prey like krill and small fish by filtering vast amounts of water. Orcas, in contrast, are apex predators with a diverse diet, including fish, sharks, and marine mammals. The dynamic between humpbacks and orcas is complex, often involving predator-prey interactions where orcas, particularly transient ecotypes, hunt humpback calves. Despite this, aggressive interactions between adult humpbacks and orcas are relatively rare, and they often coexist in shared feeding grounds. This image shows how the Humpback whales protect their calves. When migrating, you will often see two adult whales and a calf. One of the adults is the mother, the other a lookout or protector.
