Whales, a Hope for Climate Change... "Lifeforms with the Greatest Carbon Absorption"

Daily intake about 4% of body weight... Feeding on krill shrimp and photosynthetic plankton
Nutrient-rich whale feces help krill shrimp and plankton thrive

Minke whale

A study has revealed that whales can play an important role in combating climate change.

According to New Zealand media on the 26th, researchers from the University of Otago in New Zealand and the University of Alaska Southeast in the United States announced that whales in the open ocean can be the largest carbon sinks among living organisms.

The researchers explained that because of their enormous size, whales can absorb a tremendous amount of carbon dioxide, and when whales die and sink to the seabed, they trap the absorbed carbon, preventing it from escaping back into the atmosphere.

They stated, "Due to their size and lifespan, whales consume vast amounts of food and produce large quantities of waste, allowing them to accumulate carbon more efficiently than smaller animals," adding, "They can have a powerful impact on the carbon cycle."

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According to the researchers, whales consume about 4% of their body weight daily. Among them, blue whales eat up to 3.6 tons per day. Whales primarily feed on krill and photosynthetic plankton. Krill and plankton absorb carbon through photosynthesis, and whales help facilitate this process.

Additionally, the researchers noted that whale feces are rich in nutrients, which promote the proliferation of krill and plankton, thereby increasing the amount of carbon they can draw from the air through photosynthesis.

The researchers continued, "Whales can play a crucial role in fighting climate change, but commercial whaling poses a serious obstacle," emphasizing, "Protecting whales is the best way to expect positive effects on climate change."

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