"Imagine roaming the world's largest ocean year after year alone, calling out with the regularity of a metronome, and hearing no response” – NY Times.
The article above surfaced in 2004, but it's still so compelling. The solitary whale was tracked since 1992 in the North Pacific by hydrophones used by the US Navy.
It was named 52 hertz after the distinctive sounds it made at around that basso profundo frequency. While it was definitely a whale, its voice was not like any other. As a result, no other whales were replying to its songs.
"He's saying, 'Hey I'm out here,'" said Dr Kate Stafford, a researcher at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle. "Well, nobody is phoning home."
:(
Its voice slightly deepened over time – was it maturing or sinking into depression? You can hear a recording of its song here. I desperately want to know what happened to 52 hertz… so if you discover anything, let me know.
I put a little something together with Billie Holiday and a blue whale so we can all take a moment to think about 52 hertz. It was a difficult toss up between Billie and Celine. Imagine a giant whale gliding through the ocean swells singing "All By Myself" …did you feel that? It was your heart shattering into thousands of tiny pieces.
Sigh, new research by the US Navy has revealed that its use of sonar and explosives could be even more harmful to marine life than previously thought.
On a more uplifting note, or at least an inspiring one, a cute cat with spina bifida overcame her disability when faced with a "cat tree". Vets initially thought she'd be "incompatible with life", but now look at her go:
The SPCA in the Waikato wants all free-roaming cats to be locked up at night time. Campbell Live went to investigate the potential cat-curfew this week.
I suspect this may be the result if the proposal become law (cat sings the blues):
And the dogs will be all like:Stupid dogs. Sorry, I’m still listening to “All By Myself” while writing this and it’s making me feel glum. Poor 52 hertz.
I wrote an article for 3 News this week about the terrible threat dogs pose to kiwi. Did you know that one German shepherd in 1987 is believed to have killed more than 500 of the 900 kiwi living in the Waitangi Forest? BAD DOG.
A 3 News investigation into fish dumping has led to charges being brought against the captain and factory manager of a foreign-owned trawler.
Finally, a penguin fugitive has been spotted in Tokyo. It scaled a sheer 4m high rock face and skirted a barbed-wire fence in a bid for freedom in March.
Freedom!
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