Blue Whale

Photo: Stas Zakharov · © all rights reserved

The southwest tip of Sri Lanka sits at the edge of a submarine canyon that channels Antarctic upwellings loaded with euphausid krill, drawing blue whales in higher concentrations than anywhere else on earth. Individuals here are predominantly from the Northern Indian Ocean sub-population and often show relaxed, slow-travelling behaviour rather than feeding dives, giving extended surface-time encounters. Groups of two to four are commonly seen travelling together during peak January-to-April season.