Watching a whale breach the surface or a dolphin spin through the air is an unforgettable experience. Whether you are an armchair whale watcher or preparing to see these extraordinary animals in the wild, this stunningly illustrated guide will help you get the most out of the experience. Whale Watcher provides the very latest research on all the world's whales and their smaller relatives, the dolphins and porpoises. Expert advice on where to find and how to identify each species is also included. Dramatic action photography brings to life the thrill of watching whales in the wild, and detailed artwork provides a comprehensive visual reference. Identification keys tell you the most recognizable features of each species at a glance, from its shape, size and color, to behavior and diving patterns. Authoritative factfiles provide up-to-date information on each species' habitat, range, conservation status and population. Sidebars include maps and practical details on where to watch the world's cetaceans, when to go and how to get there. Book jacket.

Trevor Day is a zoologist and marine biologist, and the author of the four-volume Exploring the Ocean. He contributed 50 articles to the multi-volume encyclopedia series, Oceanography and Marine Science.

Trevor Day is a zoologist and marine biologist, and the author of the four-volume Exploring the Ocean. He contributed 50 articles to the multi-volume encyclopedia series, Oceanography and Marine Science.

An Introduction to WatchingIn the last 50 years, people's attitudes to whales have undergone a sea change. Thankfully, many people across the world would now rather watch whales, and appreciate their beauty, bulk, and extraordinary behavior, than hunt them.Whales (and their smaller relatives, the dolphins and porpoises) also inspire in us feelings of kinship. When you hear the breath of a whale at close range, you are forcefully reminded that they are air-breathing mammals, like us. When you watch a school of bottlenose dolphins duck and weave, you realize they are complex animals with sophisticated behavior. The strength and complexity of their friendships and family ties may also be likened to our own. And many whales and dolphins have a strange curiosity about people, which is all the more surprising given our long history of ruthlessly exploiting them.Whale watching, as a pastime and a tourist industry, began to emerge in the mid-1950s, when Californians took a keen interest in the gray whales that migrated along their coastline. Today, more than 10 million people a year join commercial whale-watching trips in one or more of up to 90 nations. The range of opportunities to watch whales, dolphins, or porpoises is astonishingly wide, and includes watching from the shore, from a floating vessel, from the air, or, on rare occasions, while actually in the water.The aim of this book is to provide an introduction to the broad range of whale-watching opportunities around the world and to offer a starting point for planning your whale-watching trip of a lifetime. All the world's whales, dolphins, and porpoises are listed here, with information on where and how to see the more common, recognizable, and accessible species.