CHAPTER ONE HUMPBACK WHALES IN THE WILD It's a calm breezy April afternoon in Maine The sun glistens on the rippling waves in the Atlantic Ocean Sailboats glide in the water People bask in the sunshine and peer out from the boats hoping for a glimpse of nearby wildlife Suddenly the ocean waters begin to churn and swirl The people turn and stare A large creature begins to rise from below Humpback whales come to the surface to breathe
Spotting humpback whales is a popular tourist attraction the waves Sightseers snap photographs as its dark gleaming head rises above the surface The massive creature is a humpback whale It has a length of 40 feet 12 m but some humpback whales are even longer The whale has a shiny black top with a spotty white and black underside Large knobs appear all over the whale's head Its powerful tail known as a fluke helps the whale move forward The whale also has two large flippers that help it move as it surges through the waves These flippers are one third as long as the whale's body
The whale swims in a group with five other humpback whales The whales are active and playful They plunge deep below the waves and come up again to slap their flippers on the surface One whale uses its fluke to propel its Whale Watching Visitors to Maine Alaska and Hawaii can take boat tours to see humpback whales up close Approximately 13 million people worldwide go whale watching each year Scientists warn about the possible harm caused by whale watching The boats can get too close to whales and disturb them These disruptions can affect their behavior Sometimes boats also strike whales and kill them But some experts say the tours have benefits The tours can educate people about humpback whales and their needs Still having too many boats in an area at one time can have negative effects Some countries have laws that limit whale watching entire body above the surface This is known as breaching The whale rises in an arc through the air Then it swoops back underwater with a giant splash People marvel as the humpback whales swim and frolic But the whales
