How do whales mate?

Whales are polygamous mammals, with females giving birth to live young and nursing them for several months. During breeding season, the male, or bull whale, copulates underwater with the female, or cow, in a complex mating ritual that varies widely from species to species. read more

For a number different whale species the path to reproducing offspring begins by leaving their local feeding grounds and preparing for their long migration trip to their breeding/calving grounds where the male whales compete with one another for the right to mate with a female and have a chance to pass on their genes to the next generation. read more

Mating entails long migrations to oceanic breeding grounds, vocalizations or songs and, sometimes, large groups of male whales, such as humpbacks, competing for females in violent displays of dominance. read more