Humpback Whale Accidentally Engulfs Kayaker in Chile

Explore the different types of whale species, from massive blue whales to agile orcas. Learn about their characteristics, habitats, and unique behaviors in the marine ecosystem.

Context: Recently a 23-year-old Venezuelan kayaker was briefly engulfed by a humpback whale while kayaking through the Strait of Magellan, (off Chile’s Patagonian coast).

Types of Whales

Baleen Whales (Mysticeti) – 14 species

Eg: Blue whales, humpback whales, grey whales.
Feeding mechanism: Have baleen plates instead of teeth, used for filter-feeding small prey like krill and fish.
Throat size: Extremely small (size of a human fist), making it impossible to swallow a human.

Toothed Whales (Odontoceti) – Over 70 species

Eg: Sperm whales, beaked whales, killer whales, and dolphins.
Feeding mechanism: Have teeth and hunt larger prey like fish and squid.
Throat size: Larger than baleen whales, but still cannot swallow a human.
Exception: Sperm whales have large enough throats to swallow a human. However, such encounters are extremely rare (described as a “billion to one” chance by National Geographic).

Why Did the Whale Engulf the Kayaker?

According to experts from Marine Conservation, humpback whales often charge to the surface with open mouths to capture prey.
It is likely the whale did not detect the kayak due to cloudy conditions and the kayak’s minimal noise.
Humpbacks primarily rely on hearing, and small, motorless vessels like kayaks produce little sound, contributing to the accidental encounter.