U1W4 People Helping whales

People Helping whales

Chapter 1 Amazing whales Whales are amazing animals. There are many different kinds of whales. They come in all different sizes. The biggest is the blue whale. It can grow up to 100 feet in length. It's the largest animal that has ever existed on Earth. Blue whales may weigh as much as 200 tons or more.

Orca whales can grow up to 27 feet long. That's about a quarter of the size of a blue whale. Orcas are good hunters because they can swim very fast. Their prey includes fish, seals, and birds. Sometimes they hunt young blue whales. Orcas are also called killer whales.

All whales are alike in some ways. They all have smooth skin. This helps them slide easily through the water. Under their skin, they have a layer of fat called blubber. It helps to keep the whale warm. Some whales can survive even in icy cold water.

Whales breathe air through a blowhole. It is on top of the whale's head. Whales come up to the surface of the water to breathe. That's Not a Fish! Whales are not fish - they are mammals. That means they have to breathe air. They also feed milk to their young. A young blue whale will drink about 100 gallons of milk every day! A whale makes a stream of air when it breathes out.