Whale Trusts Captain So Much That He Lets Captain Remove Lice From His Head

Emma Ackerman
Jun 08, 2023
Jun 09, 2023

There is an unbreakable bond between people and the natural world. And there are those who put in a lot of effort each day to strengthen that wonderful connection. Some people work to preserve and grow plants, while others assist wild animals in need. Whatever they are working on, it is truly meaningful, and we are very grateful for that. Today, let’s join us and explore an inspirational tale about the miraculous bond between a person and a massive whale.

Source: Silver Shark Adventures

Do you know that gray whales have been living with barnacles and whale lice since birth?

Source: omigoat

The gray whale has hundreds of pounds of barnacles on it, and whale lice are also a common occurrence. When baby gray whales are born in the lagoons, barnacles attach to them, and whale lice develop around these barnacles. That explains why whales frequently rub themselves on the beach or the sea bottom. And as long as the gray whales are alive, these parasites live on them.

Even though they are accustomed to these creatures, whales occasionally require a little assistance.

Source: Silver Shark Adventures

A gray whale and a boat were featured in a video that, after being posted online, quickly became popular due to its high viewership.

Often, gray whales are social beings, and they don’t trust humans to care for their personal affairs—for example, removing their whale lice from their bodies. However, this video showed how much trust the gray whale has in this boat captain.

You can see the whale approaching the boat with its mouth slightly out of the water.

Source: Silver Shark Adventures

It approached the boat in a manner similar to how a dog or cat would approach a person when it wanted to be petted. It even seemed like they’d known each other for a long time, and that’s how trust is often earned.

But this whale was not there to entertain the pets.

Source: Silver Shark Adventures

The gray whale was politely asking the boat captain to remove some lice from its head. Naturally, Paco Jimenez Franco, the captain, immediately noticed the whale and acceded to its demand.

You can tell the whale enjoyed the activity.

Source: Silver Shark Adventures

The huge friend then partially submerged himself in the water. But it doesn’t end there. The whale returned for more right when you thought he was finished!

It's adorable how he asked Paco to repeat it, and he complied willingly, which made the people on the boat laugh. The gray whale finally left after a few more whale lice were taken care of.

This behavior shows how much the whale trusted Paco.

Source: Chris Jungman

The boat was operated by Silver Shark Adventures, a company that provides boat tours to Ojo de Liebre in Guerrero Negro. As a result, the whales are familiar with the boat captains because they frequently sail in the area.

As was previously mentioned, gray whales are thought to be social creatures because they frequently show interest in boats that are close to their habitat. They frequently appear on the surface as if to say hello to people in those tour boats, making them a popular attraction for eco-tourism destinations in the North Pacific region.

However, because these gentle giants of the sea are in danger of going extinct, we should be more cautious and mindful of our interactions with them.

Source: Raimon Escapa

In the Western North Pacific, the status of gray whales is threatened, and they are protected throughout their range. The most serious threats to their survival are habitat degradation, disturbance from shore-to-surface activities, ocean noise, and climate change.

As a result, locators and tourists must raise awareness about gray whale conservation and management efforts.

Watch the video below to see the gray whale’s adorable interaction with Paco.

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