Stunning photos show whale jumping out of the sea

By Douglas Whitbread via SWNS

Stunning photos show a minke whale leaping out of the sea after surfacing off the coast of Britain.

Photographer Steve Shipley snapped the huge aquatic mammal as it breached in waters near Scarborough, North Yorks.

He caught sight of the incredible whale, measuring around 17ft (5m), just ten minutes into a wildlife spotting trip aboard a boat on Thursday, June 22.

And the animal was identified due to its small pointed flippers, which have a white band, along with its throat grooves, flattened head and gray coloration.

Experts believe whales jump out of the water to communicate a range of emotions, such as desire and need, but also to indicate danger or as a form of play.

Minke whales are commonly found on their own or in groups of two or three and can reach up to 35ft (10m) in length.

They’re known to survive in tropical temperatures and polar climates, but they generally migrate to warmer seas during the colder months.

There are around 500,000 minke whales left in the wild, which can live to the age of 50.

The noises the whales make, known as "vocalizations," can be as loud as 152 decibels - the same volume as a jet taking off.