14 DAY TRIAL // Humpback whales can grow to measure about 12 to 16 meters (39 to 53 feet) in length and weigh up to 36,000 kilograms (79,000 pounds). We, humans, love to watch them go about their business in the ocean, but let's face it, nobody in their right mind would ever try to ride one.
Well, no human, that is. As it turns out, humpback whales are kind of like buses to seals. Yup, it looks like these marine creatures are brave enough to climb atop their back and go for a spin.
The photo below was taken by wildlife photographer Robyn Malcolm, who says she witnessed the rather peculiar scene while whale-watching off the coast of New South Wales in Australia.
The photographer chanced to come across a group of humpbacks that were busy feeding, and so, with all the commotion going on, she didn't even notice the seal when she snapped the shot.
Some time later, however, when she had a close look at the photos, she at long last noticed the seal idling on the back on a massive humpback. Needless to say, she was quite taken aback.
In an interview, wildlife researcher Geoff Ross explained that, although seals don't ride humpbacks on a regular basis, they do like to hang around the marine mammals while they are hunting, DM reports.
This is because, as gifted hunters as the whales are, some fish do occasionally get away. Seals stick around hoping to catch this fish themselves, maybe even find some leftovers to feast on.
