Whale Feeding in the Water Nearly Swallows Kayaker in Harrowing Video
The ocean is full of beautiful and amazing creatures, and whales top the list. For many people seeing and interacting with whales would be considered a spiritual experience, while for others it would be a very scary one. Daily Mail shared a video on Wednesday, April 24th of a kayaker who almost got swallowed by a feeding whale, and you have to see it to believe it!
The video shows that kayaker rowing along in the water when a whale breaches as it fed on hundreds of fish. The whale is directly in front of the kayaker, and if the kayaker had been just inches closer, he would've become a meal himself! Make sure to have your sound on so you can hear the kayaker's excited reaction to the experience.
Talk about biting off more than you can chew! Did you see all the fish around the whale trying to avoid become its next meal? Daily Mail commenters had a lot to say about the experience. One person said, "What a whale of a tale! What an excellent experience!" Another pointed out, "He almost became part of the Pinocchio story!" And I agree with @Margaret who said, "I have to say it’s amazing but on the other hand, scary as h*ll!"
Related: Video of Humpback Whales Bubble Feeding Is Truly a Sight to Behold
Why Humpback Whales Don't Eat Humans
Commenter @Nylsoj Maria asked, "Didn’t someone actually get swallowed by a whale like last year in a kayak?" I did a quick search, and it turns out that yes, that did happen...kinda. News.com.au reported in June 2023 sharing footage from an incident that happened in California in November 2020. Julie McSorely and Liz Cottriel were in a kayak together watching humpback whales during feeding season. In the video, you can see the whale engulfing both the women and the kayak in its mouth. The video ends with the empty kayak bobbing in the water, with no sign of the women. Luckily, both women resurfaced soon after, unharmed but shocked by the encounter.
The article goes on to say, "Humpback whales do not intentionally consume humans; the women were simply in the vicinity of fish that enticed the beast’s appetite." National Geographic shares more, "Though a humpback could easily fit a human inside its huge mouth—which can reach around 10 feet—it’s scientifically impossible for the whale to swallow a human once inside." They go on to explain why, "A humpback’s throat is roughly the size of a human fist and can only stretch to about 15 inches in diameter to accommodate a bigger meal."
So there you have it! If you are ever almost eaten by a humpback whale, know that it's impossible and that if you do end up in its mouth, it's by accident. While I think whales are magical and love whale watching, I think I'll steer clear of kayaking in the ocean.
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