Massive sea creature puts on a show with its tail for an hour, CA photos show
.jpg "A sea creature was spotted off the California coast, onlookers said.")
A massive sea creature had bystanders “excited” after deciding to put on a show, California whale watchers said.
On May 1, the “wonderful tail throwing humpback whale” showed off for almost an hour, according to a Facebook post by Monterey Bay Whale Watch.
Why the whale decided to emphasize its tail is unknown, but onlookers said it can be as a means of communication, exercise, a way to remove barnacles from their body or even to help digest food.
“Humpback whales reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 10 years,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Calves stay near their mom for up to a year before weaning, with the mother being “protective” and “swimming closely and often touching them with their flippers,” according to the NOAA.
Along with the entertainer, throughout the day, the group said it saw another 79 humpbacks and 150 Risso’s dolphins.
Monterey is about a 120-mile drive south from San Francisco.
This story was originally published May 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM with the headline "Massive sea creature puts on a show with its tail for an hour, CA photos show."