When a blue whale senses it’s near the end of its life, it makes one final journey—swimming far from home for its last dive, known as a Whale Fall.
As the blue whale sinks into the ocean depths, it becomes an underwater feast. Sharks and eels eat first, followed by tiny worms that consume the remaining flesh. Then, zombie worms dissolve its bones, releasing fats and proteins that nourish symbiotic bacteria. These nutrients fuel an ecosystem that thrives for over a century.
One blue whale fall supports 43 species and over 12,000 organisms, showing how even in death, life finds a way.
