Norway’s relationship with whales has long seemed tinged with hypocrisy in as much as whales are considered part of the country’s ‘cultural heritage’ but still killed for meat and blubber. Whale hunters are currently allowed to kill just over 1,200 minke whales each year; however, this quota is rarely met and many activists agree that Norway’s whaling industry, like Iceland's, is facing its final death knells. Responsible Travel says: We campaigned long and hard to Say No to Orca Circuses and we feel the more Norway understands the value of whales, including minke whales, as a vital part of a sustainable and profitable tourism industry, the better. The herring is constantly moving further north during winter - and the whales always follow the herring. There’s a good chance of seeing lots of orcas and humpbacks there, maybe even the occasional finback. They all follow the herrings, which populate the fjords in millions during wintertime. Humpback whales are gifted singers and tricky hunters: Singing takes place in the South Seas, hunting is done in the cold fjords. Next to grey whales, humpbacks are the most popular whales among whale watchers. One reason is that their annual migration routes are well known. That means they can be quite reliably met at a certain place at a certain time. An even bigger reason is that humpbacks are great acrobats, fantastic singers and impressive hunters. Humpbacks are curious animals and rather open-minded when it comes to boats and the people on them. Sometimes they even come close to get a better look at their visitors. Humpbacks like breaching and hurl their 30 ton bodies through the air with amazing ease. Quite often, the whole body is visible before it crashes back into the sea on its side. Usually, humpbacks are very much aware of their size and act very gentle, when they are around boats or kayaks. That, however, is not the case during feeding time, when they @respectanimalrights © 📷 @orcaguide #orcanorway #nikon #tamron #fjord #tonymeyerphotography #orcaguide #norway #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #humpback #killerwhale #wildlife #nature #whalewatching #humpback #wildnature https://www.instagram.com/p/BqQFhjrAA4j/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=j0v57rwphsyg
