22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Ocean Ballet: Five Male Whales on a Journey to Love in Réunion
Off the coast of Réunion Island, between 50 and 200 whales arrive annually from July to September. During this time, female whales teach their calves essential skills such as swimming, self-protection, and body maintenance. Meanwhile, male whales compete to find a female to protect. These magnificent creatures provide a spectacle for attentive observers, occasionally breaching the surface—a behavior believed to help clean themselves of shells and seaweed.
Photo Detail
Date Taken: | 08.2023 |
Date Uploaded: | 11.2024 |
Photo Location: | L'hermitage les bains, France |
Camera: | FC3170 |
Copyright: | © Gabriel MADIE |