Breeding occurs mostly in the winter to early spring in warm waters. The female whale carries a calf for 12 months, and gives birth every 2-3 years. Calves are 23-27 feet long at birth and weigh some 3 tons. A newborn calf will nurse for the first 7-8 months of life and are then slowly weaned from the mother. During the nursing period, calves consume more than 100 gallons of the mother's milk each day, gaining more than 200 pounds a day.
Calves remain with their mother for just over a year before venturing out on their own.
The Blue Whale has a life expectancy of 35-40 years. In 1966, the International Whaling Commission declared the Blue Whale a protected species because of their huge population decrease. No longer hunted, their population is slowly on the rise. Learn more about this fascinating creature, still on the edge of extinction. Inc. Pagewise makes no representations about the content published on this site.