Even though enormous (and surprisingly tiny) dinosaurs once roamed the earth, the largest animal believed ever to have existed is still on the earth today. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to glimpse this amazing creature for yourself. Whale watching expeditions on the coasts are very popular, though it isn’t guaranteed that you will spot a whale. However, sometimes things work out perfectly, and like these lucky watchers, you get to view the most impressive animal on earth – up close and personal.
The blue whale has been recorded at up to 98 feet in length, and it is thought that they may weigh more than 200 tons. These whales with their long, thin shape were once found in high numbers all over the earth (in the oceans, of course). But, like so many animals, hunting by humans reduced their numbers drastically. It is estimated that there are only 10,000 -25,000 blue whales in the oceans today, a small number if you consider the vastness of the oceans.
Despite their rarity, these amazing animals can still be viewed today on whale watching trips. A group of tourists in Quebec was fortunate to see a blue whale, perhaps a little closer up than they would have liked. Eric Mouellic captured the entire encounter on video.
Mouellic was originally filming whales breaching in the distance, an impressive sight in itself. Then, one of the huge animals began gliding swiftly through the water, right towards their whale watching boat! It was a terrifying few moments as it looked like the whale would run right into them. But, at the very last moment, the whale turned and barely missed the boat. Those few heart-pounding moments are some of the most amazing footage of a whale caught by an amateur videographer.
Watch the stunning encounter for yourself! Please like and share the video!
