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© SamoaPocketGuide.com © SamoaPocketGuide.com Last Updated: 20 September, 2024 Whales in Samoa: What Species, When to See Them and WhereThe South Pacific is renowned for its whale sightings, especially during the breeding season of humpback whales. But what about Samoa? Samoa might be similar to its neighbours of Tonga, a top destination for whale swimming, in many ways but not when it comes to whale sightings. Located further north and close to the equator, Samoa might be in a migratory path for whales but in much fewer numbers. That’s not to say that you never see whales in Samoa, so check out the best time to spot whales, what species there are and where to see them in this complete guide to whales in Samoa. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions About Whales in SamoaA lot of people have a lot of questions about whales in Samoa, so before we begin, here are the answers to the most asked questions on the internet about whales in Samoa!Are there Whales in Samoa?Whales migrate through Samoa’s ocean that surrounds the islands’ fringing reefs. The most common species seen in Samoa are humpback whales.Is Samoa Good for Seeing Whales?Although the South Pacific region is famous for its humpback whale season between the months of June and November, Samoa has much lower humpback whale migrations. There are thought to be fewer than 100 individuals that migrate to Samoa, compared to countries like Tonga which is estimated to have 1,000-2,000 whales during the whale season.Are Whales Protected in Samoa?Whales are a protected species around the islands of Samoa, with the country having whale protection legislation. Furthermore, Samoa is a member of The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), an international treaty concluded under the United Nations Environment Programme in 1978, If you’ve heard Raffi’s song, “Baby Beluga,” you know that Beluga whales are playful and smart. These white whales have mouths that seem to turn up in a smile.Fun FactsBeluga whales are gray or brown when they are born, but turn white, as they get older.They are smaller than most whales, growing 13 to 20 feet and weighing around 2,000 to 2,500 pounds.They live for 35 to 50 years in the wild.Beluga whales live in pods, or groups, in arctic waters. They move south in the winter as the water turns to ice. Sometimes whales are stuck in the freezing ice. When this happens, polar bears or hunters might kill them.Beluga whales are very social. They use clicks, trills, chirps, and calls to communicate with other whales. Their sounds are very musical and they are sometimes known as the “canaries of the sea.”Beluga whales eat fish, shrimp, mollusks, and worms.They are related to narwhals.VocabularyPod: a family or communitySocial: enjoys being with othersQuestions and AnswersQuestion: How many beluga whales live in a pod?Answer: Pod size varies from 10 to 20 whales to as many as 200 whales.Learn MoreListen to a beluga whale concert.Internal LinksFacts About Whales for Kids VideoWhales – The Toothed and Baleen WhalesFilming Polar Bears Video for KidsNext post

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Occurrence which has happened in the past on Kaua‘i and is potentially linked to US Navy testing.Nevertheless, consider yourself lucky if for some reason you ever encounter these whales; the average pod size is over 300 whales, with as many as 800 reported!Short Finned Pilot WhalesLength: 12-24 ft. Hawaii Population Estimate: 8,850Like long, sleek, black torpedoes cruising their way through the sea, it’s always exciting encountering pilot whales in the waters off Maui County.While short-finned pilot whales spend most of their time in deep, offshore waters, they’ve been known to occasionally explore the waters off the leeward coastline of Maui.Pilot whales are one of the largest members of the dolphin family—second to only killer whales—and frequently are seen in social gatherings between 25-50 whales.Sperm WhalesHawaiian Population Estimate: 7,082Length: 36-52 ftSperm whales in Hawaii are very rare.In 12 years of studies by Cascadia Research, a total of 32 sperm whales were sighted in Hawaii—31 of which were off of the Big Island.In 2014, a sick Sperm Whale was sighted off of Kihei, and it was presumed that the whale had ventured to shallower water as it fought to stay alive.Sperm whales prefer the deeper waters where they can dive for fish and squid, and the whales are able to dive to depths exceeding 3,000 feet!Dwarf Sperm WhalesHawaii Population Estimate: 11,000-19,000 (largely offshore)Length: 9 ftDwarf sperm whales live in deep water off of the Lana‘i and Kona coastlines, although a dwarf sperm whale washed ashore in Kihei in December, 2013.Dwarf sperm whales. orcas whale - killer whale jump on white background orcas whale - killer whale on white background The orca (Orcinus orca), also called killer whale, is a toothed whale belonging to

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Which aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range.Are There Orcas in Samoa?Although not a species of whale (they are actually a species of dolphin), orcas are not common to Samoa’s waters. However, as the most widely distributed mammal on Earth (with the exception of humans) it’s unsurprising that there have been rare instances where orcas have been spotted in Samoa. © SamoaPocketGuide.comWhale Species in SamoaThe main species of dolphin you will see in Samoa are humpback whales.Humpback WhalesThis species of whale frequents much of the South Pacific during their breeding season when they migrate some 6,500 km (4,000 mi) from the Antarctic. They grow to between 15-19 m (49-62 ft) in length and weigh approximately 40 tons. Like most baleen whales, humpback whales do not feed in the tropical waters of the South Pacific.Other Species Sighted in SamoaWhile not as common as humpback whales, other whale species that have been sighted over the last 20 years include blue whales, short-finned pilot whales and an unidentified species of beaked whale, the latter two sighted as part of the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium.© SamoaPocketGuide.comThe Best Time to See Whales in SamoaWith humpback whales being the most prolific species seen off the shores of Samoa, the best time to see whales here is during the humpback whale breeding season.Between August and November each year, humpback whales travel some 6,500 km (4,000 mi) from Antarctica to mate and give birth in the warmer waters of the South Pacific. However, the very best month for seeing humpback whales in Samoa is the month of September.© SamoaPocketGuide.comHow to See Whales in SamoaSeeing whales in Samoa is a case of sheer luck. They are there, but in small numbers, making sightings not as common as at other South Pacific islands further Share a common ancestor with those traits, but because they have adapted to similar environments or ecological niches.In the case of whales and fish, both have streamlined bodies that are efficient for moving through water. They both have fins/flippers to aid in swimming, and tail fins (known as flukes in cetaceans) that provide propulsion. However, despite these similarities, whales and fish are fundamentally different in many ways due to their different evolutionary backgrounds.Fish are a diverse group that belong to many different evolutionary lineages, but, unlike mammals, most are cold-blooded, breathe through gills, and lay eggs.Although whales and fish may look similar on the surface due to their adaptations to aquatic life, these traits were developed independently in response to similar environmental pressures.You can find out more about fish on this page: Fish – The Ultimate GuideCetacean CharacteristicsAll cetaceans share a number of distinct characteristics due to their full adaptation to aquatic life. These include:Body Shape: Cetaceans have a streamlined, spindle-shaped body that allows them to move through water efficiently.Breathing: Cetaceans breathe air through a blowhole located on top of their heads. A cetacean’s blowhole is the equivalent of nostrils in other mammals. Over millions of years of evolution, the nostrils of cetaceans migrated to the top of the head, and became a blowhole.Limbs: Cetaceans evolved flippers from their forelimbs and lack hind limbs, although internal, vestigial remnants of ancestral hind limbs are present. Their tails have horizontally-oriented flukes which they move up and down to propel themselves through the water.Skin and Blubber: Cetaceans have a thick layer of blubber under their skin, which serves as both insulation in cold water and a reserve of energy. Their skin is usually smooth and hairless, with only a few hairs remaining around the mouth in some species.Echolocation: Many cetaceans, particularly toothed whales (Odontoceti), have the ability to echolocate. This means they can emit sounds and interpret the echoes to navigate their environment and locate prey.Feeding: Cetaceans have diverse feeding strategies. Baleen whales (Mysticeti) have large baleen plates in their mouths to filter small organisms from the water. Toothed whales (Odontoceti), on the other hand, have teeth and usually hunt individual prey.Social Behavior: Many cetaceans live in complex social groups and demonstrate sophisticated behaviors. Some species, like dolphins and orcas, are known for their high intelligence, communication skills, and use of tools.Reproduction: Like all mammals, cetaceans give live birth and nurse their young with milk. They also exhibit extended parental care.Sound Production and Hearing: Cetaceans are known for their diverse range of sounds used for communication, navigation, and hunting. Although whales lack external ears, they have excellent hearing, adapted for underwater acoustics.Back to Page IndexDifferent Types Of CetaceansCetacea is home to the animals known as whales, dolphins and porpoises. There are two main types of cetaceans: baleen whales (parvorder Mysticeti), and toothed whales (parvorder Odontoceti). All dolphins and porpoises are toothed whales, and the toothed whales group also contains whales such as sperm whales and beaked whales.Baleen whales filter feed by straining large

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Mugged” if the whales swim over for a visit.False Killer WhalesHawaii Population Estimate: 150Length: 15-20 ftAside from humpbacks and pilot whales, false killer whales are the most common whales that are spotted in Maui’s waters.This isn’t to say that they’re common, however—in fact, very far from from it. Cascadia estimates the insular population is only about 150 whales, and they spend their time traversing all of the islands from the Big Island all the way to Kauai (click here for historical tracking maps).There is another, larger population that lives in offshore waters, but they are considered to be genetically separate from the insular species and would never be seen by visitors.Closer to shore in the Main Hawaiian Islands, False Killer Whales are very predatory and love the taste of yellowfin tuna. They’ve been spotted in waters between Maui and Lana‘i and off the coastline of Lahainaand Ka‘anapali, and they are one of the few whale species we might actually encounter during paddling tours in Maui.Melon Headed WhalesHawaii Population Estimate: 2,950Length: 9 ft.Even though NOAA estimates there are almost 3,000 Melon Headed whales in Hawaii, the chances of seeing one on a paddling tour in Maui is definitely exceptionally slim.And even though these deep diving whales will spend ample time on the surface, they tend to congregate over offshore water that is many thousands of feet deep. Since Maui’s waters are relatively shallow—rarely exceeding 300 ft.—the only chance of seeing Melon Headed whales would likely be during a mass stranding, an

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through my links we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read about our affiliate policies here.If you’re heading out to Maui during the winter, consider yourself lucky. You are in for a whale-watching treat. While you can easily casually spot these beautiful creatures from shore, a little more information can help you get the most out of whale watching on Maui. What is the best time of year to see whales on Maui?Whale season officially runs from mid-December to April, though you can spot whales as early as October or November. Most whale tour companies offer guaranteed whale sightings from December through May because that’s when you have your best chances of seeing whales. Peak whale watching season is usually considered January through March, which is when you have the majority of whales here. Looking out at the water during those months, you’re almost guaranteed to see whales from land. You can read more about whale counts, the peak month, and the best time to see whales in Hawaii. Visiting during peak season? Learn more about visiting Maui in February. Why do whales come to Maui?Each year as many as 12,000 whales make the migration from Alaska to Hawaii to breed, give birth, and nurture their calves. The warm water here makes it a perfect place to enjoy the birth. Humpback whales have an 11-12 month gestation period, so they’ll mate. orcas whale - killer whale jump on white background orcas whale - killer whale on white background The orca (Orcinus orca), also called killer whale, is a toothed whale belonging to

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Toothless cousins. The toothless-whale group -- which includes humpback whales, blue whales and many other species -- possess a unique feeding adaptation called a baleen. The baleen is a wide plate in the whale's mouth, made up of hundreds of long, fringed blades, composed of keratin -- the same material in our fingernails. These blades form a sieve that the whale uses to filter small animals -- such as krill, plankton and small fish -- out of seawater. Because of this unique attribute, toothless whales are usually referred to as baleen whales. There are two groups of baleen whales, distinguished by the way they use theses sieves. Skimmers open their mouths and swim forward, catching fish, crustaceans and plankton as they go. After they've filtered a good bit of water, they knock any morsels loose and swallow them whole. Gulpers take in a mouthful of water and then push the tongue forward to force it all out through their baleen, catching any prey on the inside of the plate. Despite their large size, baleen whales typically have very small throats, measuring only a few inches across. This is all they need to devour the krill and other small creatures that make up their diet. Since baleen whales filter water for their food, instead of ripping into their prey with sharp teeth, many people get the impression that they are passive hunters, simply cruising through the sea with their mouths open, snagging whatever happens to be in the way. But in fact, most baleen whales will seek out areas with high concentrations of food, and they may employ a number of tactics to catch their prey. Humpback whales, for example, trap fish with a sort of bubble net. When it has located a school of fish near the ocean's surface, a humpback swims in a circle underneath them, releasing air out of its blowhole. This builds up columns of bubbles all around the school, so they are contained in one small area. Then the whale charges up from below, catching the fish in its baleen. Humpback whales may also emit a loud shriek as they approach the fish, apparently in an effort to disorient their prey. Humpback whales and other whale species can produce a wide range of sounds, which they use to communicate with each other over long distances. In the next section, we'll explore the noises whales make and