This past weekend, I met some friends at The Whale, a craft beer bar in downtown Greenville, SC. In the realm of craft beer, a "whale" refers to those rare and coveted brews sought by beer enthusiasts. The bar celebrates the theme with whale-themed decor adorning its walls and spaces. A giant faux whale skeleton suspended overhead sets the tone, while a wild painting of a sperm whale is highlighted to command attention. I personally think they could use some more humpback whale art.
The Devastation of Whales
The rare quality of some beer inspired the theme for good reason. Whales are rare. Whaling during the 1800s and 1900s wrought havoc on whale populations worldwide. All whale species suffered devastation with one of the worst victims being the blue whale. Once numbering around 340,000 individuals, the global population of blue whales plummeted to fewer than 5,000, marking a staggering decline of nearly 99%.
While modern challenges such as fishing gear entanglements, ship strikes, climate change, and pollution continue to threaten whale populations, the peak of global whaling in the 1960s spurred efforts to save whales from total extinction. It turns out not hunting whales is a pretty effective conservation strategy. Global numbers are recovering, though some specific populations are still struggling.
Whales Are Amazing
Among the most well-known whale species are humpback whales, renowned not only for their size and beauty but also for their fascinating behaviors. "Trap feeding" may have been described in the 13th century Norse myth about Hafgufa, where humpbacks regurgitate some food as bait and float motionless with their mouths open to snap shut on their unsuspecting prey. Modern drone footage has introduced us to "bubble net" hunting, where whales create a spiral column of bubbles to corral prey for easy capture.
For many of us, our encounters with whales are limited to enjoying a drink at a whale-themed bar or immersing ourselves in a classic like "Moby Dick." However, advancements in technology have brought us a closer view of whales' lives than ever before. Through photography and drone footage, we can witness firsthand the extraordinary behaviors of these marine giants, from bubble feeding to social interactions.
Whales, with their sheer size, warm social behaviors and clever hunting tactics, have captivated artists and writers for centuries, inspiring a rich tapestry of whale art and literature. From ancient mythological accounts to modern whale wall decor based on actual photos, the allure of whales continues to inspire artistic expression and storytelling.
We raise a glass in appreciation of whales, let us toast to their continued recovery and the inspiration they provided for our humpback whale sculpture. Cheers!
