• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Science

‘Astonishing’ blue whale numbers at South Georgia

‘Astonishing’ blue whale numbers at South Georgia
Newsexplored
20th February 2020
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
6
Blue whaleImage copyright M.Collins/BAS South Georgia Whale Project
Image caption To see so many blues back in the waters around South Georgia is tremendously encourgaing

Scientists say they have seen a remarkable collection of blue whales in the coastal waters around the UK sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia.

Their 23-day survey counted 55 animals – a total that is unprecedented in the decades since commercial whaling ended.

South Georgia was the epicentre for hunting in the early 20th Century.

The territory’s boats with their steam-powered harpoons were pivotal in reducing Antarctic blues to just a few hundred individuals.

To witness 55 of them now return to what was once a pre-eminent feeding ground for the population has been described as “truly, truly amazing” by cetacean specialist Dr Trevor Branch from the University of Washington, Seattle.

“To think that in a period of 40 or 50 years, I only had records for two sightings of blue whales around South Georgia. Since 2007, there have been maybe a couple more isolated sightings. So to go from basically nothing to 55 in one year is astonishing,” he told BBC News.

“It’s such good news to see that they might be further rebounding and coming back to places where they were formerly extremely abundant.”

Dr Branch was commenting on the survey which was led by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) with the support of the University of Auckland.

  • Southwest Atlantic humpbacks recovering
  • Satellites to monitor whale strandings from space
Image copyright Copernicus Sentinel data/Esa
Image caption South Georgia’s wildlife feeds on the train of krill moving up from the Antarctic

The institutions put together an expert team that toured the island’s near-shore waters in the Research Vessel Braveheart.

The scientists identified whales of various species both visually and acoustically through their song repertoires.

In a number of cases, they even managed to retrieve skin and breath samples to understand more about the health of the various animals they encountered.

data-ad-format="auto">
Image copyright P.Ensor/BAS South Georgia Whale Project
Image caption Whale science: Not just counting but getting health data as well

Blue whales are the most massive creatures ever to roam the Earth, and the Antarctic sub-species contained the very biggest of the big at over 30m.

This population was also the most numerous of the 10 or so discrete populations across the globe, carrying perhaps 239,000 individuals prior to the onset of industrial exploitation.

But the marine mammals’ physical size made them a profitable catch, and around South Georgia more than 33,000 Antarctic blues were documented to have been caught and butchered, most of them between 1904 and 1925.

By the time a ban was introduced in 1966, a sighting anywhere in Southern Ocean waters would have been extremely rare indeed.


The last official estimate of abundance was made in 1997 and suggested Antarctic blues could have recovered to about 2,280 individuals. When the next assessment is released, probably at the end of 2021, it should show a further increase – as reflected in the encouraging activity at South Georgia in recent weeks.

“This is definitely a pattern,” said Dr Branch. “All of the Southern Hemisphere whale species – the populations for which we have data – are increasing. So, for right whales – several populations are going up very consistently every year. Humpback whales – several populations are going up consistently every year. And blue whales – we think they’re going up. Which is super-good news

“The exception is Antarctic minke whales; we do think they’ve gone down quite a bit.”

Image copyright Danny Buss
Image caption The RV Braveheart circled the whole island to sight and catalogue whales

What is clear however is that the moratorium on commercial whaling is working. And whatever other pressures these whale species may face today, they are gradually edging back from the brink.

  • Whaling’s ‘uncomfortable’ scientific legacy
  • The lost whaling station at the end of the world

South Georgia is a place they should congregate.

The territory sits in a highly bio-productive zone that is supported by a copious train of krill drifting up from the Antarctic on strong currents.

These crustaceans are the favoured diet not just of the big whales but also of the island’s many penguins and seals.

Some might question whether the growth in numbers of blue, humpback and other whales around South Georgia is simply a bump that’s been driven either by a short-term bounty of krill at the island or maybe by a paucity of the prey elsewhere.

But survey project leader Dr Jennifer Jackson from BAS doubts this.

“The preliminary data does not suggest it has been a particularly unusual krill year. Not this year, nor last year. It seems quite normal,” she said.

“So, I think this is positive. We know that 100 years ago, South Georgia was a good place for blue whales and now, after decades of protection, it seems the territory’s waters are a good place for them once again,” she told BBC News.

The RV Braveheart voyage this year was funded by the Darwin Plus programme, the South Georgia Heritage Trust and the Friends of South Georgia Island. It was dedicated to the memory of the late Prof Peter Best, an English marine biologist who pioneered whale study in South African waters.

Dr Branch tracks all science on blue whales whenever it is published on the Twitter account @BlueWhaleNews.

Image copyright M.Collins/BAS South Georgia Whale Project
Image caption Southern right whale: Most populations’ numbers seem to be moving in the right direction

Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemsastonishinggeorgianumberssouthwhale
Science
20th February 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemsastonishinggeorgianumberssouthwhale

More in Science

  • Read More
    Covid-19: Last day of home-school is ‘end of an era’

    Views:6 By Kate ScotterBBC News, East image copyrightFamily photo image captionKatrin’s children Ada, Hazel and Remy are...

    Newsexplored 20th February 2020
  • Read More
    Mars: Nasa’s Perseverance rover sends stunning images

    Views:6 image copyrightNasa/JPL-Caltech Nasa’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars at 20:55 GMT on 18 February after almost...

    Newsexplored 20th February 2020
  • Read More
    Wales plans wider school return from 15 March

    Views:6 Published 15 minutes ago Related Topics media captionCase rates and positivity rates are two of the...

    Newsexplored 20th February 2020
  • Read More
    Science Photographer of the Year winners revealed

    Views:6 image copyrightSue Flood image captionOn Thin Ice by Sue Flood The Royal Photographic Society has revealed...

    Newsexplored 20th February 2020
  • Read More
    Images reveal length of Moon golf shot

    Views:6 This image consists of six photographs taken from the Lunar Module, enhanced and stitched into a...

    Newsexplored 20th February 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Wales’ school return could start after half-term

    Views:6 image copyrightGetty Images image captionSchooling has moved to the home for most children since the start...

    Newsexplored 20th February 2020
  • Read More
    Climate change: Biggest global poll supports ‘global emergency’

    Views:6 By Matt McGrathEnvironment correspondent Published 7 minutes ago Related Topics image copyrightGetty Images image captionYoung people...

    Newsexplored 20th February 2020
  • Read More
    Covid-19: Five days that shaped the outbreak

    Views:6 By Jane McMullenBBC News image copyrightGetty Images A year ago, the Chinese government locked down the...

    Newsexplored 20th February 2020
  • Read More
    What’s the science behind closing schools?

    Views:6 By Will FyfeBBC News media captionDr Heather Payne says school drop off and pick-ups created “social...

    Newsexplored 20th February 2020
  • Read More
    Coronavirus: Virus provides leaps in scientific understanding

    Views:6 By Victoria GillScience correspondent, BBC News image copyrightGetty Images image captionA worker takes away an escaped...

    Newsexplored 20th February 2020
  • Read More
    What is Elon Musk’s Starship?

    Views:6 By Paul RinconScience editor, BBC News website image copyrightGetty Images image captionSpaceX has been developing a...

    Newsexplored 20th February 2020
  • Read More
    Cancelled exams are a ‘big disappointment’

    Views:6 image captionJake did not want exams to be cancelled “It’s a big disappointment,” says 17-year-old Jake...

    Newsexplored 20th February 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Transfer rumours: Kounde, Haaland, Bremer, Neuhaus, Balogun, Ziyech, Raphinha
    Sports13th February 2021
  • Station reopening at Bow Street brings first trains for 56 years
    UK14th February 2021
  • Manchester United 3-3 Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin scores late goal to deny hosts
    Sports6th February 2021
  • Super Bowl half-time show: How did The Weeknd do?
    Entertainment8th February 2021
  • George Floyd trial: Why is it so important?
    USA7th March 2021
  • LeBron James: NBA superstar’s evolution from high school prodigy
    USA4th March 2021
  • What is Biden doing differently at US border?
    USA3rd March 2021
  • Coronavirus: Texas and other states ease rules despite warnings
    USA3rd March 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Climate change: Fertiliser could be used to power ocean-going ships
Conservation: Calls to protect species across borders
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok