🍼 Whale calf
The young of a whale.
A whale calf is the young of a whale. Whales are mammals, so their calves drink their mother's milk even though they live in water. The biggest example is the blue whale. Its calf is born 6–7 metres long and weighs 2–3 tonnes. The mother carries it for 10–12 months.
A whale calf drinks a huge amount of milk: an estimated 220 kg a day, and sometimes more. Whale milk is very rich. Thanks to it, a blue whale calf gains about 90 kg a day. Over the nursing period it puts on about 17 tonnes.
Nursing happens underwater, so it is hard to see. The first video that probably shows a blue whale calf suckling was filmed off New Zealand in 2016. Blue whale calves are weaned at 6–8 months. By then they grow to about 16 metres. This usually happens on the way to their summer feeding grounds.
How it connects to milk
🍼 Whale calf ← feeds ← 🐋 Whale → gives → 🥛 Milk
Links
- Fed with milk by
- 🐋 Whale
Frequently asked questions
How much milk does a whale calf drink?
A blue whale calf drinks an estimated 220 kg of milk a day and gains about 90 kg a day.
How do whale calves drink milk underwater?
Nursing happens underwater and is rarely seen. The first likely video of a blue whale calf nursing was filmed only in 2016.
When are whale calves weaned?
Blue whale calves at about 6–8 months.