Why is the Equator a natural barrier to whales?
The baleen whale species that approach the Equator from the north to mate and calve, if they were then to carry on south after the mating and calving season in the northern winter would encounter the southern winter in what was supposed to be their summer feeding season. Any baleen whale doing that would not be able to find food. Whales may also be no different from other animals that are genetically “programmed” to return to certain areas. In addition, there is a lot of evidence that whales have preferred feeding and calving areas and go back to the same regions they were taken to by their mothers. However, the Equator is not an absolute barrier. Through photo-ID researchers have shown that humpback whales in the Antarctic migrating along the west coast of South America, cross the Equator and proceed up along the coast of Colombia and even into offshore Panama waters for their mating and calving grounds. They then return to the Antarctic (or subantarctic) joining the other southern he
The baleen whale species that approach the Equator from the north to mate and calve, if they were then to carry on south after the mating and calving season in the northern winter would encounter the southern winter in what was supposed to be their summer feeding season. Any baleen whale doing that would not be able to find food. Whales may also be no different from other animals that are genetically “programmed” to return to certain areas. In addition, there is a lot of evidence that whales have preferred feeding and calving areas and go back to the same regions they were taken to by their mothers. However, the Equator is not an absolute barrier. Through photo-ID researchers have shown that humpback whales in the Antarctic migrating along the west coast of South America, cross the Equator and proceed up along the coast of Colombia and even into offshore Panama waters for their mating and calving grounds.
