Local marine life put on a stunning display for tourists this weekend, as a group of humpback whales danced and flipped their way through the waves for a whole three hours.
The scene was a hit with whale-watching enthusiasts, who flocked to the area to catch a glimpse of these majestic mammals in action. Some even claimed it was the best whale-watching experience of their lives, while others joked that they’d never felt so seasick.
But while tourists may have been delighted by the display, the humpback whales themselves were less than impressed. One whale, who we spoke to on the proviso of anonymity, said the whole thing was a “total joke”.
“We put in all this effort to entertain these humans, and all they do is take pictures and squeal like idiots,” the whale said, rolling its eyes. “They don’t even pay us for our time!”
Other humpbacks we spoke to echoed this sentiment, with many complaining that they were sick and tired of being treated like nothing more than performers in some kind of marine circus.
“We’re a highly intelligent, emotionally complex species,” said one whale, who identified herself as Humpback Number 457. “We’re not just here for their amusement.”
Another whale we spoke to said that the whole whale-watching industry was “fundamentally exploitative”.
“They come out here in their big boats, and they just sit and stare at us all day,” the whale said, with a sigh. “It’s not natural. It’s not ethical. Frankly, it’s just a bit creepy.”
It’s not just the whale-watching industry that’s coming under fire, either. Some marine biologists are also questioning the ethics of the whole operation, pointing out that humpback whale sightings have increased dramatically in recent years, as more and more tourists flock to the area.
“Whales are highly social creatures,” said Dr. Jane Park, a marine biologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “Having dozens of boats swarming around them for hours on end is not a natural or healthy environment for them.”
Despite these concerns, however, the whale-watching industry continues to thrive, with more and more tourists flocking to the area each year. And while the humpback whales themselves may be less than thrilled about the situation, it seems that they’re going to have to put up with it for the time being.
“Look, we don’t have much choice in the matter,” said Humpback Number 457. “Humans are always going to want to come and gawk at us. But that doesn’t mean we have to like it.”
It seems that, for the humpback whales at least, the glamour and glitz of the whale-watching industry is less attractive than it seems. So next time you’re out on a boat, watching these magnificent creatures in action, spare a thought for the whales themselves, who might just be wishing they were somewhere else entirely.
