Imagine the loneliness of speaking a language that only you can understand. Researchers have been studying a whale who communicates in a language not recognizable by other whales. This whale has spent over two decades searching high and low for a friend who will understand him.
Whales are renowned for their songs. Often complex, sometimes simple, songs are their only method of communication. But this unique whale is so out of tune with other whales that no one can hear or understand it.
A team of scientists has been listening to this whale for over two decades. They believe he is a fin or a blue whale. Whatever the case, it has been calling in search of a mate for many a moon.
Its high-pitched song is so different from other whales that its calls for friendship continue to fall on deaf ears.
Researchers have nicknamed this creature ‘the loneliest whale in the world.’
His song was first discovered in the vastness of the North Pacific Ocean in 1989. While recording submarines, the US Navy accidentally picked up the unmistakable noise of whale songs. Dr. William Watkins researched the sounds and noticed that one whale’s song was completely different to the others.
A male fin or blue whale communicates on a frequency which is too deep for the human ear. This ‘lonely’ whale sings at a pitch which is three times higher.
Such an obscure song receives no response from other whales. Scientists are confused why a healthy creature doesn’t change its tune and communicate in a regular pattern used by other whales.
Without a shared means of communication, we would all live an isolated existence. In such a world, our deepest thoughts, feelings, experiences, and beliefs would die a lonely death. Our most treasured moments would be unexpressed, unshared, and unloved.
Yet is the whale lonely, or has it chosen to speak in a different language to the rest of its species out of choice?
May-Ann Daher, who researched the whale, is unsure.
She explained, “People like to imagine this creature out there swimming by his lonesome, just singing away, and nobody’s listening. But I can’t say that.”
No matter if he’s alone or lonely, he’s not one to throw in the towel. This solitary creature will continue to search the ocean for another whale who speaks the same language and shares the same song.
Read More:
The Loneliest Whale in the World?
Search for the world’s ‘loneliest whale’ who has been singing to himself for 20 years
Imagine speaking a language that only you can understand. There is a whale who uses a language not understood by other whales. This whale has spent over twenty years searching high and low for a friend who will understand him.
Songs are whales’ only method of communication. But this whale is so out of tune with other whales that no one can understand him.
A team of scientists has been listening to this whale’s songs for many a moon.
Its high-pitched song is so different from other whales that it falls on deaf ears.
His song was first discovered in 1989. While recording submarines, the US Navy picked up the noise of whale songs. Dr. William Watkins studied the sounds. He noticed that one whale’s song was very different to the others.
Whales communicate on a very low frequency which humans cannot hear. This ‘lonely’ whale sings at a pitch which is three times higher.
Scientists are confused about why it doesn’t change its tune so others will understand it.
Without communication, we would all live a lonely life. Our thoughts, feelings, and experiences would die a lonely death.
Is the whale lonely, or has it chosen to speak in a different language?
May-Ann Daher, who studied the whale, says she doesn’t know.
No matter if he’s alone or lonely, he’s not one to throw in the towel. He will continue to search the ocean for another whale who shares the same song.
Read More:
The Loneliest Whale in the World?
Search for the world’s ‘loneliest whale’ who has been singing to himself for 20 years
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