A kayaker recently caused a splash in the media after a video went viral that many people believed to show a humpback whale “swallowing” the man before spitting him out after a few seconds.
“I thought it had already eaten me and swallowed me,” Adrián Simancas told the Associated Press in an interview about his shock encounter off the coast of Chilean Patagonia.
But whale experts have said that while the footage is “both amazing and fascinating,” some of the news stories that have emerged are “slightly misleading”.
“This latest news of a man being swallowed by a whale is not quite what it seems as it isn’t possible for this whale to swallow this man!” says Danny Groves, head of communications at Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC).
“Though a humpback could easily fit a human inside its huge mouth, it’s scientifically impossible for the whale to swallow a person once inside,” says Groves. “A humpback’s throat is roughly the size of a human fist.”
When humpback whales feed, they take a huge gulp of water which they filter out using special bristles called baleen – leaving a mouthful of tiny fish and plankton that they can then swallow.
“It is likely that this is what this particular whale was doing,” says Groves. “We humans are not on their menu. This whale was simply going about his or her daily routine unaware that someone in a small boat was nearby.”
Although people shouldn’t be worried about something like this happening to them, they should always be aware of the wildlife around them – both for their own safety and so they don’t disturb, harm or stress the animals. Groves adds that “incidents of disturbance are increasing” as more people are using the water and many don’t know the rules around marine animal encounters.
The charity has helped to create guidelines to help people understand how to behave responsibly in the water. “These include keeping your distance and avoiding getting too close – especially if calves are present, approach carefully from behind and to the side, and don’t overstay your welcome – 15 minutes is enough,” they say. “A good encounter is one that is enjoyable for you and the whales or dolphins.”
Main image: humpback whale feeding (not the whale involved in the incident)/Getty Images
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