Whale Lifts Up Kayakers With Its Back
March 7, 2017 3:50 PM Subscribe
Two kayakers paused to take a closer look at some whales off the coast of Argentina, but got an unexpected surprise when one of the giant creatures lifted their boat onto his back. The two very surprised humans on its back are taken along for the ride, but manage to keep their cool.
It sure does... What kind of asshole does that?
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 4:07 PM on March 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 4:07 PM on March 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Original video (same content but not from an aggregator FWIW)
posted by stevil at 4:19 PM on March 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by stevil at 4:19 PM on March 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
I've seen (and personally been in) situations where you stop really damn far away from wildlife and stay still, and then you're sitting there very still, increasingly concerned as they come check you out, because animals are often curious. This isn't one of those situations. They got way, way too close, on purpose.
posted by zachlipton at 4:21 PM on March 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:21 PM on March 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
For the other ending to this scenario, see this previously.
posted by zamboni at 4:46 PM on March 7, 2017
posted by zamboni at 4:46 PM on March 7, 2017
mrsozzy: Why are they getting so close? It could eat them, like Pinocchio.
posted by uncleozzy at 6:17 PM on March 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by uncleozzy at 6:17 PM on March 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
... two people deliberately paddle on top of a whale, it looks like.
Might have been some fluke.
posted by hal9k at 6:19 PM on March 7, 2017 [23 favorites]
Might have been some fluke.
posted by hal9k at 6:19 PM on March 7, 2017 [23 favorites]
A whale of a tale.
posted by Oyéah at 6:34 PM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Oyéah at 6:34 PM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm going to offer a counter point. We know that some whales seem to seek out interspecies contact and what seems to be playful behavior. We know that they do lift dolphins and seals out of the water as part of this play (and sometimes to annoy the fuck out of killer whales). While I do agree they got too close, there certainly seemed to be an element of "oh shit, those animals ARE big" and a slight turn of direction, and suddenly they're under the kayakers.
I might just be old and grumpy, but I do hate that there is this assumption that any interaction with wildlife is a terrible thing, as inevitably come up in these threads. Sometimes there is a need to connect with other minds, and we're finding with increasing frequency that it's not just a human thing to do.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 6:35 PM on March 7, 2017 [22 favorites]
I might just be old and grumpy, but I do hate that there is this assumption that any interaction with wildlife is a terrible thing, as inevitably come up in these threads. Sometimes there is a need to connect with other minds, and we're finding with increasing frequency that it's not just a human thing to do.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 6:35 PM on March 7, 2017 [22 favorites]
Unless there is something in their conversation, which I couldn't understand, I don't know that I would say they deliberately paddled on top of the whale.
Obviously, they were closer than they should have been—both in terms of consideration of the whales and for their own personal safety. People have an annoying tendency to act stupid around wildlife. I prefer to think that the whale was just gently messing with them for the entertainment of all involved.
If only grizzly bears could be a bit more forgiving and playful when a human accidentally cross their path, I might be willing to leave pavement when hiking.
posted by she's not there at 6:36 PM on March 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
Obviously, they were closer than they should have been—both in terms of consideration of the whales and for their own personal safety. People have an annoying tendency to act stupid around wildlife. I prefer to think that the whale was just gently messing with them for the entertainment of all involved.
If only grizzly bears could be a bit more forgiving and playful when a human accidentally cross their path, I might be willing to leave pavement when hiking.
posted by she's not there at 6:36 PM on March 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
Sometimes there is a need to connect with other minds
Cetacean needled
posted by hal9k at 6:37 PM on March 7, 2017 [46 favorites]
Cetacean needled
posted by hal9k at 6:37 PM on March 7, 2017 [46 favorites]
Humans have one purpose meddling in environments not their own - to give human-finger-skritches. It is our greatest gift.
If you're a terrestrial mammal, riiiiight behind the ears is good. VERY good. Almost as good as under the chin, down between the forelegs and the BELLY! OMG! And I ama GOOD GURL/BOI! The best.
Aquatic mammals - they know we have fingers, there's the patch of barnacles growing right there, maybe skritch around it whilst I host your kayak? Plz?
No skritches. :(
The older and more be-barnacled whale was hoping for a decent skritch, or at least a boop on the snoot, and sadly gave up hope before he/she committed to surfacing beneath them.
As human beings, we have one responsibility to the living things around us we must not shirk. If they come in peace for skritches, skritches we must give.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:41 PM on March 7, 2017 [20 favorites]
If you're a terrestrial mammal, riiiiight behind the ears is good. VERY good. Almost as good as under the chin, down between the forelegs and the BELLY! OMG! And I ama GOOD GURL/BOI! The best.
Aquatic mammals - they know we have fingers, there's the patch of barnacles growing right there, maybe skritch around it whilst I host your kayak? Plz?
No skritches. :(
The older and more be-barnacled whale was hoping for a decent skritch, or at least a boop on the snoot, and sadly gave up hope before he/she committed to surfacing beneath them.
As human beings, we have one responsibility to the living things around us we must not shirk. If they come in peace for skritches, skritches we must give.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:41 PM on March 7, 2017 [20 favorites]
According the British Columbia cetacean sightings network site, the guidelines for kayakers observing whales is
Kayakers:
Observe the Be Whale Wise Guidelines.
Although kayaks are very quiet, whales and other cetaceans may not be alerted to your presence as easily as they are to power boats. Research has shown that the presence of vessels, including kayaks, may cause cetaceans to change their behaviour, including cessation of feeding. Provide all cetaceans a wide berth.
posted by vac2003 at 6:47 PM on March 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
Kayakers:
Observe the Be Whale Wise Guidelines.
Although kayaks are very quiet, whales and other cetaceans may not be alerted to your presence as easily as they are to power boats. Research has shown that the presence of vessels, including kayaks, may cause cetaceans to change their behaviour, including cessation of feeding. Provide all cetaceans a wide berth.
posted by vac2003 at 6:47 PM on March 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
she's not there: Unless there is something in their conversation, which I couldn't understand, I don't know that I would say they deliberately paddled on top of the whale.
Yup, an incomplete, very rough translation is "look, there's a whale, and there's another one. Look, LOOK LOOK!" (when it was under them). And in re-watching the video, they're pretty close to the whales, but then it looked like they stopped paddling (the lady in front was sitting with the paddle out of the water, and the guy, who I assume had a hand-held camera, which would mean he wasn't paddling either, because I can't imagine kayaking with one hand). At which point, one of the whales drifts closer, sliding under their kayak and lifts them.
I'd say they were the unwitting plaything, not the other way around, and with the great post linked by [insert clever name here], this looks very much like curious and playful behavior.
My family was kayaking in Glacier Bay, Alaska, with a guide, where we happened across some humpback whales. Our guide told us to stop moving, but one of the whales came closer. My mom and I were off more to one side, and all of a sudden, a tail lifted out of the water, closer than we were expecting. My mom was sure it was over us, but it was close enough to know the whale was definitely under us. After a few minutes, the whale surfaced again, farther away from us. In short, whales know where they are in terms of hierarchies of scale, at least with slow-moving, non-motorized boats.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:05 PM on March 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
Yup, an incomplete, very rough translation is "look, there's a whale, and there's another one. Look, LOOK LOOK!" (when it was under them). And in re-watching the video, they're pretty close to the whales, but then it looked like they stopped paddling (the lady in front was sitting with the paddle out of the water, and the guy, who I assume had a hand-held camera, which would mean he wasn't paddling either, because I can't imagine kayaking with one hand). At which point, one of the whales drifts closer, sliding under their kayak and lifts them.
I'd say they were the unwitting plaything, not the other way around, and with the great post linked by [insert clever name here], this looks very much like curious and playful behavior.
My family was kayaking in Glacier Bay, Alaska, with a guide, where we happened across some humpback whales. Our guide told us to stop moving, but one of the whales came closer. My mom and I were off more to one side, and all of a sudden, a tail lifted out of the water, closer than we were expecting. My mom was sure it was over us, but it was close enough to know the whale was definitely under us. After a few minutes, the whale surfaced again, farther away from us. In short, whales know where they are in terms of hierarchies of scale, at least with slow-moving, non-motorized boats.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:05 PM on March 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
Man I hate whales.
posted by My Dad at 7:33 PM on March 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by My Dad at 7:33 PM on March 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Maybe they were itchy and needed some help with the barnacles.
posted by polymodus at 7:45 PM on March 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by polymodus at 7:45 PM on March 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've been in a raft near humpbacks a couple times. They can be pretty curious. If it's the playful season...no calves, not trying to mate...And you sit real still, they'll come check you out. I took it as an honor that they felt I wasnt a threat and swam up and underneath real slow.
If they're pissed...you'll know it. Males come up and splash with their flippers in a clear "back the fuck off" display.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:05 PM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
If they're pissed...you'll know it. Males come up and splash with their flippers in a clear "back the fuck off" display.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:05 PM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
And when there was only one wake, it was then that I carried you.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 9:55 PM on March 7, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by the agents of KAOS at 9:55 PM on March 7, 2017 [11 favorites]
It appears to me that they were quite taken aback.
posted by skyscraper at 11:03 PM on March 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by skyscraper at 11:03 PM on March 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
When they're out of the water, he repeats "Mantén el equilibrio", which means "Keep it balanced".
posted by fuzz at 12:48 AM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by fuzz at 12:48 AM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
I thought that kind of thing only happened in Adventure Bay
posted by TheLateGreatAbrahamLincoln at 4:47 AM on March 8, 2017
posted by TheLateGreatAbrahamLincoln at 4:47 AM on March 8, 2017
Maybe they were itchy and needed some help with the barnacles.
That was exactly my take too.
Imagine you are a whale and have an itchy back. What are you gonna rub your back against?
posted by sour cream at 6:42 AM on March 8, 2017
That was exactly my take too.
Imagine you are a whale and have an itchy back. What are you gonna rub your back against?
posted by sour cream at 6:42 AM on March 8, 2017
My paddling partner would have had to hit me in the head with his paddle, because I would have been screaming like a little girl. Holy shit.
You guys, DON'T DO THAT.
posted by corvikate at 10:26 AM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
You guys, DON'T DO THAT.
posted by corvikate at 10:26 AM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Itchy sperm whales rub up against each other in 70 whale 'skratchathon' that lasts for 'hours or days'.
posted by asok at 1:13 AM on March 9, 2017
posted by asok at 1:13 AM on March 9, 2017
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