The Loneliest Whale In The World

[MrScorpio]

In 2004, The New York Times wrote an article about the loneliest whale in the world. Scientists have been tracking her since 1992 and they discovered the problem:

She isn’t like any other baleen whale. Unlike all other whales, she doesn’t have friends. She doesn’t have a family. She doesn’t belong to any tribe, pack or gang. She doesn’t have a lover. She never had one. Her songs come in groups of two to six calls, lasting for five to six seconds each.

But her voice is unlike any other baleen whale. It is unique—while the rest of her kind communicate between 12 and 25hz, she sings at 52hz. You see, that’s precisely the problem. No other whales can hear her. Every one of her desperate calls to communicate remains unanswered. Each cry ignored. And, with every lonely song, she becomes sadder and more frustrated, her notes going deeper in despair as the years go by.

Just imagine that massive mammal, floating alone and singing—too big to connect with any of the beings it passes, feeling paradoxically small in the vast stretches of empty, open ocean.


http://welovetumblr.blogspot.com/2011/04/loneliest-whal...

[hlthe2b]

1. Sniff. sniff...

That is so sad.... Poor thing....

[Thunderstruck]

2. Whoa, that is just sad.

[BOG PERSON]

3. clicked on this thread expecting a story about Rush Limbaugh's personal life

not really, no. it's a good thing non-human animals don't have feelings or else i'd be moved to pity for that whale!

[Skip Intro]

5. "it's a good thing non-human animals don't have feelings" - Really?

You sound pretty sure of that.

[Cetacea]

18. FYI

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/whales-...

[bvar22]

22. Cold.

Really, REALLY Cold.

You should get a pet or something.
.
.
.
On second thought,
no you shouldn't.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Thanks for breaking my heart. Poor baby!

[robinlynne]

6. Cant they lure her to a place with other whales? deaf people love and are loved!

[Ferret Annica]

7. Whales live in groups called 'pods.'

The person who wrote as if he knows what is on her mind or the full plate of her existence couldn't even get that right. I feel for her, but I don't trust hairless primates that sing at an even lower pitch to get it right about her.

We are such arrogant, assuming little apes. We are why whales and dolphins are in trouble as we over infest the Earth instrimentalizing anything we can into dollars.

[Snoutport]

8. My autistic students probably feel the same way :0(

[1monster]

29. I was talking with a very high functioning autistic young man who worked his

way out of a group home and is now putting himself through college to with the goal of being a psychologist to help others who fall under the autistic umbrella.

Speaking of himself and others who share autistic disorders, he said, "We get sooo lonely. We feel emotions just like everyone else. We need love too."

[BrklynLiberal]

9. That is one of the saddest stories I have ever read......She must be a mutant of some sort..

and she is one of a kind.

[Odin2005]

10. Poor thing!

[Motown_Johnny]

11. maybe someone should record the songs and then PLAY THEM BACK FOR HER

It may only be listening to her own voice but it would have to be better than utter and complete isolation.

It might even be a good idea to try and vary the songs and keep track of her responses. It may lead to some further understanding of how whales communicate.

[liberal N proud]

12. Loneliness is not just a human problem

[izquierdista]

13. Call her Ann Coulter

She must be pretty shrill if her voice is an octave or three higher than everyone else. Maybe she can run into a male who is an outcast for being hard of hearing -- I've known human couples that had that as a basis for their relationship.

[donheld]

17. -1000 That's very mean

to the whale

[freshwest]

14. Oh wow.

[lonestarnot]

15. Poor thing.

[GReedDiamond]

16. Calling all audio engineers...

...especially in underwater acoustics and recording: would it be possible to rig this poor/sad whale with a device to alter the frequency of her voice, and transmit that frequency to the other baleens?

Kinda like fitting today's mega "pop stars" with auto-tune, except for POSITIVE humanitarian pro-cetacean reasons, instead of for generating robotic digital cookie cutter pop music "vocals."

I know, it's crazy idea time...

[Cetacea]

19. Not a crazy idea at all

It's just a logistical nightmare. Your "crazy" idea really is the starting point for anyone trying to bridge the communication gap between humans and dolphins. (dolphins transmit up to five times our range at five times the speed)

[GReedDiamond]

20. Thanks for the encouragement...

...on the idea, Cetacea.

However, I do not necessarily think we (the humans) would have to "bridge the communication gap between humans and dolphins" in order to (maybe not so) simply reproduce, at the adjusted frequencies/retransmit at the proper frequencies, whatever it is this baleen is trying to say, even if it is the whale-world equivalent of ordering a pizza.

Serious audio engineers, especially those with a specialty in underwater acoustics and recording could confirm or debunk this idea, I am sure.

I just record indie punk rock, so this is beyond my payscale.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

24. I wondered if there was some technological solution too.

Poor innocent creature, it would be wonderful if someone or some team could create a device to help her!!

Not a crazy idea at all---more like a VERY COMPASSIONATE, BEAUTIFUL IDEA!!!! (I'm "hollering" because I want to drown out the few voices here who sound shockingly inhumane.)


Oh I hope it happens!

[GReedDiamond]

31. Thanks, BlancheSplanchnik...

...for the "compassionate, beautiful idea" thing.

Oh I hope it happens!

I wish and hope that it could be so.

[Cetacea]

33. I would encourage both of you

to sign any and all petitions that are against the slaughter of all dolphins and whales.

[GReedDiamond]

35. I have, and will most likely continue to do so...

...in fact, if you have any links to such petitions, please post them, thanks!

[fishwax]

21. wow, I've never heard of this

Fascinating (and sad) ...

[Octafish]

23. Broke my heart, MrScorpio.

I hope she finds a friend. Same for too many people I know.

Incredible story! Thank you!

[Blue_Tires]

25. sad...

[Mimosa]

26. This article makes me cry.

I've always been amazed at the intelligence and sensitivity of whales. Human beings have junked up the seas and made life harder for its beautiful creatures.

[dana_b]

27. omg - this is too sad

[ceile]

28. That is probably the saddest thing I have ever read...

I can't imagine spending every moment of my existence alone...

[Zorra]

30. Awww, that is so terribly sad

I wish I could hug her.

[Cetacea]

32. Her call, sped up ten times

http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/vents/acoustics/whales/sounds/...

(click on 241 wav file)

[Snoutport]

34. I shared this with my speech team at school today...they work with communication devices

they were so touched by it. I wish they could work out a way to help! (they have given students of mine with no voice ways to talk...)