Antarctic Minke Whale

Antarctic Peninsula, February 2023

Every southern summer, baleen whales migrate to the cold and remote waters of Antarctica to spend several months feeding on krill. 

One of them is the Antarctic minke whale. This species has a small, compact body, and short fins, making it well suited to life in the pack ice where they can easily maneuver in narrow spaces between ice floes.

 

 

With a length of approximately 7-10 meters, the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) is one of the smallest baleen whales, with only their close relative, the northern minke (also called common minke), as well as the pygmy right whale being smaller.

 

Little is known about the population distribution and individual movement patterns of Antarctic minke whales. They are found in all seas in the southern hemisphere and sometimes ranges into the northern hemisphere. In summer, they feed in Antarctic waters, and during winter most of them move north to more temperate or tropical waters to mate. They inhabit both offshore and coastal waters. 

 

 

Both mating and calving usually occurs during the winter. After a gestation lasting 10-11 months, a single, approx 2,5 meter long, calf is born. Like all mammals, minke calves drink their mother's milk until they are weaned, at about 4-6 months. They remain with their mothers for up to 2 years and are sexually mature at about 7-8 years old.

 

The minke whale has a snout which is distinctively narrow, triangular, and pointed. Sometimes they use their beaks to break ice that is several centimeters thick, in order to create breathing holes.

 

They are usually seen on their own or in pairs or threes, but can also be found in bigger groups of up to 10 to 15 animals.

 

The dives of the minkes normally lasts around 2 to 6 minutes, then they spend about a minute up at the surface, where they blow 5 to 8 times before starting another dive. During deep dives the minke whale can hold its breath for as long as 20 minutes.

 

Here in Antarctica, we have met several curious minke whales, which for me is among the highlights of the trips. The photos in this post are from our recent encounter at Cierva cove at the Antarctic Peninsula.