Is anyone working on getting video of a sperm whale fighting a colossal squid?
Posted by yahyeet321@reddit | marinebiology | View on Reddit | 16 comments
I mean it’s been about 20 years since the first gopro and all you would need is a strong light, camera, and some sort of strap to get this done. You could even get one of those 360 cameras since those exist now. Of course I wouldn’t want to disturb the whales but I’m sure someone could work some sort of contraption that wouldn’t bother the whale and you could compensate it later. Any things hatching? I mean these guys are just marauders and deserve the recognition they deserve.
UmmHelloIGuess@reddit
Fighting a sperm whale, no. Just trying to get footage of a colossal squid, yes.
cammyjit@reddit
We’ve been struggling to get live footage of colossal squid’s for years, let alone one being eaten by a Sperm Whale
Jobediah@reddit
you need a camera that can go thousands of feet down where the pressures are crushing and you need someone to pay for this
fendent@reddit
I mean. This sounds right up James Cameron’s very specific alley.
Zjohns2@reddit
I'll ask him.
idoseascience@reddit
You also need it to have enough batteries and lights that it could last long enough for you to have a chance of seeing anything, and a way to recover the camera afterwards
legspinner1004@reddit
You give me money I'll do it
marinebiology-ModTeam@reddit
Your post was removed as it violated rule #8: Responses to identification requests or questions must be an honest attempt at answering. This includes blatant misidentifications and overly-general/unhelpful identifications or answers.
Channa_Argus1121@reddit
The “fight” is one-sided because the whale is 32+ times heavier than the largest colossal squid.
yahyeet321@reddit (OP)
I mean of course but I can’t think of another predator who hunts something as fearsome as a giant squid as one of their primary food sources. I mean bears usually just eat fish, wolves hunt in packs, but these guys just go out and bang with the crafty grappler squid and have the scars to show for it.
Arfusman@reddit
It's not fearsome to a whale. Whales are enormous. It a pretty easy dinner item.
Patmarker@reddit
This is my thought too. Whale grabs squid, and gets slapped by a stray tentacle a few times while swallowing. More obvious damage than a lot of predation interactions, but much less of a fair fight than media makes it out to be.
TesseractToo@reddit
They have been trying to get something for decades, the first critter cams were stuck to sperm whales to see what they could see in the deep long before GoPro existed I think as long back as the late 90's or early when the cameras were getting better and they were no longer relying of film
There was that documentary about the rich guy going around harassing sperm whales and he tried to stick one to her mouth and she wouldn't let him
Like the videos of the live ones, it's a matter of time
SheoldredsNeatHat@reddit
Assuming you could solve for the pressure issue, how do you propose 1) attaching it to a sperm whale who presumably doesn’t want to wear a camera, 2) collecting the camera/footage, and 3) ensuring you’ve captured a fight?
I’m asking from a point of total ignorance. Are these whales out there fighting giant squids daily? If not, how often? What is the whale compensation? I have a million questions for you, but I’m going to stop here and load another bowl.
TesseractToo@reddit
They suction cup cameras to them, look up 'sperm whale critter cam'
potato_reborn@reddit
This sounds like the kind of thing I'd find if I was rich.