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.
Green sea turtle with sardines near Playa Grandi Beach, Curaçao
West Indian manatees in Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, USA
Young humpback whale giving its mother a hug off the coast of Tonga
Manatees in the Ichetucknee River in Florida, USA.
Polar bear in Hudson Bay, Canada
It’s our birthday too, yeah! Harbor seal pup lying on the beach, Heligoland, Germany
Galápagos sea lion off the shore of Fernandina Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
A pod of narwhals near Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada
