Gray whales ask people for help (3 photos + 1 video)

Tourist boat captain from Baja California, Mexico shared an interesting video. During another boat trip Paco Jimenez Franco extended a helping hand to a gray whale. "I have filmed many times. parasites from this and other whales," the Mexican shared.





Whale lice are pale, crab-like creatures. They can be beneficial to whales by eating algae on their bodies and eating keratinized skin. However, most often these parasites lead to the formation ulcers extending to the subcutaneous fat layer.



"I think gray whales love and hate sea lice,” said Mark Carwardine, a British zoologist. “Whales have a very sensitive skin, and thousands of these little creatures clinging to or moving with their extremely sharp, curved claws, should drive them crazy. When a whale louse clings to your finger, it very painful, feels like injections.



For the first time, Franco helped a female whale: "As soon as I took off the first parasite, she swam again for me to continue." Since then, he repeatedly came to the aid of her and her relatives.

Humpback whales, right whales, gray whales which can reach 15 meters in length, are especially susceptible to parasites. They also become infected balyanus, and these crustaceans do not feed on whale flesh, but use the latter solely as a means of transportation.

Gray whales off the coast of Baja California are not afraid to swim up to boats, despite the fact that they were severely hunted in the 20th century. Whalers' tactics included killing a calf to hook it up with a harpoon lactating female.

Considering that gray whales can live 80 years, it is quite it is possible that animals have adapted to benefit from interaction with a person.