How Long Do Whales Live?
If you have ever wondered - How long Do Whales Live for?
Depends on the Species of WhaleHow long whales live depends on the type of whale. You might be surprised to know that some whales can live up to 230 years! BELOW - you will find a list some common whales and their various life-spans. It is nearly impossible to tell the age of a whale just by looking at it but there are a few ways used to tell how old a whale is.
Methods to tell a Whale's Age
For baleen whales - one way that that is used to determine a whale's age is by counting the rings that form on the ear plugs inside the ear of the whale - much like a tree that forms a ring for each year of growth. For toothed whales - the growth layers are counted in the teeth of these animals.
.....so one justification for killing whales may be now debunked! Scientists also use small blunt-tipped bolts fired from crossbows, to gather skin samples - with no apparent harm to the animal, for "aging whales".
Common Whale Lifespans
Blue whales - live for a max estimate of up to 80 – 90 years. 
Humpback Whales - Some individuals are estimated to have lived as long as 77 years 
Grey Whales - can live up to 50 - 60 years. 
Right Whales - can live up to about 70 years. 
Bowhead Whales - are the longest living whales - living to over 200 years!! 
Killer (Orca) Whales - average lifespan is usually 29 years, but some have been known to live up to 60 years. Captive killer whales have a significantly shorter lifespan - around 25 years with some living into their 30's and 40's depending on the will of the whales. 
Minke Whales - live around 40 - 50 years, with some living for about 60 years. 
Narwhal Whales - live up to about 30 - 40 years. 
Pilot Whales - females live to about 60 years or more. Male Pilot whales live for around 50 years. 
Fin Whales - live up to about 85 years. 
Sperm Whales - can live up to about 75 years. 
Beluga Whales - live around about 35 - 50 years.
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