Humpback whales are forming super-groups

(bbc.com)

60 points | by andsoitis 3 days ago ago

17 comments

  • grahar64 2 hours ago

    There must have been so much unseen behavior when there were millions more whales in the ocean. Here's hoping that we can see more

    • sidewndr46 an hour ago

      Given the current trajectory of whale populations, 'we' probably won't be seeing that. Maybe in many generations of humans.

      • cortesoft 38 minutes ago

        Well, the population growth probably isn't linear, so maybe?

        • mulnz 27 minutes ago

          Warming will kill off most of the systems these animals depend on within 30 years.

  • swframe2 3 hours ago

    I hope we create whalegemma (similar to dolphingemma) so we can explain to them how to co-exist better with humans (e.g. avoid this area during their whale hunting season, travel to this area if you get sick or tangled in rope).

  • tclancy 2 hours ago

    It’s going to be prog rock, isn’t it?

    • parpfish 2 hours ago

      no, i think they're just going to start a podcast.

      • tclancy 2 hours ago

        Yes officer, this one right here.

  • dotspec an hour ago

    It's the Entmoot of the sea.

  • astrocat 3 hours ago

    holy units batman

    > Bursting from their enormous lungs at over 300mph (483km/h), a humpback whale's blow can rise up to 7m (23ft) into the air.

    Pick a lane BBC.

    But this is great news. Also the fact that whales "transport huge amounts of nutrients across the globe" (linking to [1]) is fascinating. The role of whales in sucking up critters in one place and pooping them out elsewhere being a fundamental dynamic that drives global ocean ecosystems... just chefs kiss

    [1] https://www.nature.com/research-intelligence/nri-topic-summa...)

    • tom_ an hour ago

      I think the BBC policy is to provide every measurement in both types of unit.

      • gamerslexus an hour ago

        Ordering is inconsistent.

        • CarVac an hour ago

          They use MPH in the UK.

          • aaronbrethorst 34 minutes ago

            Their hours are pegged to the hogshead, and are about 3 seconds shorter than American hours.

  • bitwize 2 hours ago

    Perhaps they're forming a delegation to decide what to answer to that thing coming from space? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek_IV%3A_The_Voyage_Hom...

    • dhosek an hour ago

      So long and thanks for all the fish, perhaps.