The Wayfare Plush

"Whales are tracked to understand their movements and their diving behavior since our tags record at which depth they feed or travel. Understanding where they go is great, but we also try to investigate why they do so. What drives their movements? It can be many factors, such as food, finding mates, or avoiding predators such as orcas. In addition, individual whales do not use the same areas or migratory corridors to feed and to reproduce. Each individual is unique, and they all have traits and personalities that change from one animal to the next!"

To learn more about the work our partner is doing, visit their site directly at marineconservationecologylab.com.

"To track whales, we use satellite tags that we implant in the fat tissues. A small antenna transmits information to satellites that we can then access on our computers and even our cell phones! The tags are amazing pieces of technology. They can provide several locations each day and even record dive depths of individual whales, so we can understand what they do, how fast they travel, and how deep they dive, which are critical indications of their behavior (e.g. feeding, traveling)."

To learn more about the work our partner is doing, visit their site directly at marineconservationecologylab.com.

"Tracking does not harm the whales. The tags we deploy are specifically designed to not cause pain or discomfort. We deploy tags in the dorsal section of the body, where the blubber layer is, protecting whales from the cold and maintaining the animal’s buoyancy. The whale has limited nerves that can cause pain to the animal. Whales are our passion, and before being scientists, we love them, and we always try to minimize our impact on their lives."

To learn more about the work our partner is doing, visit their site directly at marineconservationecologylab.com.

There are all kinds of different whale species of different sizes! The blue whale measures up to 100 ft (30 m) long and is the largest mammal on Earth, whereas the dwarf sperm whale only grows up to 9 ft (2.7 m). Their larger counterpart, the sperm whale, is the biggest toothed whale at up to 60 ft (18 m) long.

A baby whale is called a calf!

This depends on the species! Blue whales and humpback whales may live 80–90 years, while sperm whales can survive up to 70 years. The whales with the longest lifespans are bowhead whales—scientists estimate the oldest living bowhead whale to be over 200 years old!

Primary threats to blue whales include exploitation as a result of whaling (though this practice has been illegal since 1966) and ship strikes. Blue whales’ food source is also declining in population due to climate change and rising water temperatures.

Wipe with damp sponge or cloth, using warm water and mild soap. Once dry, brush to restore the plush and proceed with snuggling.

Your plush had quite the long journey to get to you! If it appears squished from lack of legroom during shipping, give it a good fluff to help it return to its normal, cuddly shape. Still need help? Email us at support@myfahlo.com.