The smart fish trap of humpback whales

Pollution from the mainland begins to reduce the availability of oxygen in the water, promoting fish species to the surface, where there are naturally higher concentrations of oxygen. Eden whales (Balaenoptera edeni edeni) often rush to the surface of the sea to pick up small fish, but this way they have to swallow a lot of water. If the number of fish is small, the effort is not nearly worth it. Seemingly tired of constantly chasing prey, Eden whales choose an alternative method called bait traps.

By opening their mouths in the water like a giant basketball hoop, whales can frighten small fish, jump into the air and fall directly into their mouths. While working on the programme, the BBC team witnessed this behavior in lone whales, and even in mother and young fish. Hunting with the same species is very beneficial because one individual will swim around and scare more small fish into their open mouth. The birds also benefited by swooping down and catching fish from inside the whale's mouth. It's a tough challenge for small, hypoxic fish, but it's a great example of how wildlife can adapt to weather fluctuations in the habitat that come from human activity.
Humpback whales migrate to alaska in summer to forage, then return to warm seas in hawaii in winter to breed and raise children. Since the ban on commercial whaling in 1985, humpback whales are recovering. They are no longer considered endangered animals.