Anti-Whaling Vessel Collides With Whaling Ship
By John - January 6th, 2010
Let me start off by admitting that I eat meat, fish or poultry almost every day. Having said that, I must also admit that I feel a certain sense of compassion for whales that are currently hunted by some nations despite a moratorium introduced in 1986 by the International Whaling Commission. Whale hunting recently made headlines as an anti-whaling boat collided with a Japanese whaling ship.
Given my carnivorous background I can't claim that I am morally superior to those that hunt whales, but in my mind whales are special creatures. Perhaps the reason I feel like I do is the impression that I get that whales are intellectual beings; this in part due to their unique communication skills.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of whale communication, in my opinion, is that some species of whales can communicate over thousands of miles. This is a bold claim, but if you are skeptical, please read the information about the Sound Channel in the right margin of this page. Certain species of whales actually use the Ocean's Sound Channel like a long distance telephone call to communicate their messages for thousands of miles. Although this instinct to travel to a specific depth in order to communicate a message for long distances is instinctual, not cognitive, it seems reasonable to hypothesize that cognitive abilities would have evolved with communication skills, not unlike the human mind evolving to take full advantage of opposable thumbs and the ability to manipulate objects. There does seem to be good evidence of sophisticated communication and intelligence among whales...
According to Hal Whitehead (a biologist who studies Sperm Whales with an emphasis on communication), Sperm Whales speak in a succession of clicks that are unique to each clan and are passed down from generation-to-generation along with foraging patterns. Humpback whales also pass down 'cultural' habits according to an Encyclopedia of Earth article. Each year a different song pattern is mirrored in Hawaii and Bermuda. The author speculates that they could be heard over the 4,500 miles, or that they share their new "songs" when they migrate in summer months to a common northward location.
Given that whales have exhibited signs of intelligence, should whales be treated specially? Or, should all animals be treated the same? Should intelligence be a deciding factor in the compassion extended to animals like dolphins and primates? I'd really like to know what you think.
The Sound Channel
There is a sound channel that runs through the atmosphere at specific altitudes and through the ocean at specific depths. The sound channel works based on the fact that 'the speed of sound' is not actually a constant of 761 miles per hour; it varies with temperature, altitude and in the case of water with depth. Sounds in warmer temperatures actually move quicker than in cooler temperatures.
A good portion of the noise generated in this sound channel (essentially a plane in the mathematical sense) will not dissipate in three dimensions like most noises do; instead they will curve back towards the cooler region when the sound speeds up in the outer warmer environments. There is an excellent video lecture from Professor Richard Muller of Berkley University on this phenomenon who makes an analogy of a marching band going around a corner, the outer part of the band must move quicker than the inner part of the band . The sound wave curves towards the colder-moving region which in the case of the sound channel, is sandwiched in the middle. Extending this analogy, the marching band keeps curving back towards the center cooler temperatures which keeps them trapped in a channel. A good portion of a sound generated in the sound channel spreads out in a plane (not three dimensions) and therefore the sound travels extremely long distances.
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Comments
I completely agree that killing whales is different from killing poultry etc. for meat. The meat and poultry we eat everyday is almost always bred for that purpose. Further more we aren't hunting chicken, cows etc. to the point of extinction in their natural habitat and it isn't illegal to kill those animals.
The Whales that are being hunted are not being bred for that purpose and it is illegal to kill these Whales unless for medical research purposes - and we all know that the Japanese are not killing this many whales for medical research purposes.
Killing whales within limit is no problem, remember US and Europian countries did almost wiped off whales 19th century.
Your statement of Killing Whales tells your story. If the study of Whales requires the Death of them along with the study of any other life form, I for one hope you do not study Children. Please take a look at your post stating U.S and Europe 'did almost wiped' off Whales in the 1800. It did not happen and these countries agreed to follow laws unlike Japan. Japan has not stopped or followed the laws. If you have to Kill something to live then start like a farmer does and breed it and care for it and call it food. Raping Mother Earth is not going to be an answer for Humans or your Grandchildren.
Eat only what you raise for life, dont hunt and kill Whales just for the Money. Hey, lets eat what we have too many of.... Chickens, Whitetail deer, Humans, Dont be stupid, if you cant feed your offspring then QUIT HAVING THEM!