Humpback whale
© Philip Thurston/Getty Image
Where the humpback whale sings. World Oceans Day
Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface, so it's no surprise they play a crucial role in our planet's climate and ecosystem. These gargantuan seas support a vast ecosystem of marine life, including the beautiful humpback whale. The humpback whale once was known for its 'singing', which research attributed to possibly being a sign of loneliness. The good news is that as the whale population has risen with the end of commercial whaling, there is less need for whales to sing a song of loneliness.
While whales may no longer be lonely, their aquatic environment is still at risk from climate change and human actions. It is only right that today, on World Oceans Day, we contemplate the importance of these beautiful resources and how our actions can have a negative impact on them.
California sea lion in a forest of giant kelp, Baja California, Mexico
Herd of walruses in northern Spitsbergen, Svalbard archipelago, Norway
Sea otter, Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA
Dolphin pod near Réunion island, Indian Ocean, overseas department of France
A whale shark in Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, Indonesia
Silky shark at Jardines de la Reina, Cuba
The Bahamas photographed from the International Space Station
Polar bear cubs playing, Kaktovik, Alaska
