KAGOSHIMA, Jul 10 (News On Japan) –
A pod of sperm whales was noticed sleeping in an upright place close to Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, with their heads pointing towards the floor in what gave the impression to be vertical relaxation. The sighting was made on June twenty third by Amami Marine Life Research Group chairman Katsuki Okoshi, who captured the uncommon second about 15 kilometers west of the island.
“This was the largest group I’ve ever seen, and it was my first time witnessing them sleeping in this position. It was deeply moving,” Okoshi recalled.
According to Okoshi, about 20 whales have been noticed roughly 3 meters beneath the floor, with 4 or 5 on the heart showing to be sleeping vertically. The largest amongst them measured as much as 14 meters in size. The group is believed to have shaped when males joined native mother-calf pairs that inhabit the waters round Amami.
Sperm whales are recognized to sleep for lower than two hours per day, making such encounters extraordinarily uncommon.
Source: Kyodo