One Cool Thing: First Ever Recording of a Right Whale Singing

Photo: NOAA Fisheries

Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have recorded for the first time ever the “singing” by a rare and endangered North Pacific Right Whale.  Humpback whales are known for their songs, but no one has ever before recorded right whales of any type singing.  The government scientists heard four distinct songs over eight years at five locations in the Bering Sea off Alaska’s southwest coast.  Sadly, there are only about 30 of these majestic animals remaining — the rest have been wiped out by whale hunters decades ago.  They are hard to spot in the Bering Sea of Alaska and little is known about this population of right whales since so few remain.  Scientists believe it was a singing male and it may be trying to attract a female, but the lead scientist said, “With only 30 animals, finding a mate must be difficult.”   Awwwwwww.  That is a truly sad love song.