Animalscaretips
Due to its large size and extreme northern habitat, the narwhal has only a few natural predators in the wild such as orcas, sharks, and humans. Less commonly it is hunted by polar bears and walruses, which have been known to kill narwhals that become trapped in shallow pools of water near the ice, unable to move.
Are narwhals predators or prey?
The longest-lived narwhals are likely between 105 and 125 years old. Narwhals feed on fish, squid, and shrimp. Predators of the narwhal include killer whales and, to a lesser extent, polar bears and walruses. Inuit hunt them mainly for the ivory tusk and the skin, which is rich in vitamin C.
What does a narwhal eat?
What do narwhals eat? Narwhals feed on Greenland halibut, Arctic and polar cod, squid and shrimp. They do their chomping at the ice floe edge and in the ice-free summer waters.
Do narwhals stab their prey?
Contrary to popular belief, the tusk is not used to stab food. It is believed that the narwhal's tusk is a very powerful sensory organ. ... Scientists believe that it can sense changes in its environment, such as the salt content of its watery home, and that it may help them find food and females that are ready to mate.
