Sei whale breeding song identified for the first time in Falklands' waters

[Judi Lynn]

Friday, November 18th 2022 - 09:49 UTC



A sei whale in front of the distinctive backdrop of Cape Pembroke. Photos: Caroline Weir


Acoustic research by wildlife charity, Falklands Conservation (FC), and the non-profit African Aquatic Conservation Fund (AACF), has revealed seasonal singing by sei whales in the Falkland Islands, documenting a breeding song display in this Endangered cetacean for the first time.

The work was published on November 9 in the Royal Society Open Science journal, by scientists Dr Salvatore Cerchio (AACF) and Dr Caroline Weir (FC).

Heavily decimated during the whaling era, the sei whale remains a modern-day enigma, rarely encountered in most parts of the world and with almost nothing known about its populations, ecology or behavior.

The coastal waters around the remote Falkland Islands are unique in hosting large numbers of sei whales in summer and autumn, and in 2021 the archipelago achieved global recognition as a Key Biodiversity Area due to its importance for feeding whales, including sei whales.

More:
https://en.mercopress.com/2022/11/18/sei-whale-breeding-song-identified-for-the-first-time-in-falklands-waters

[3Hotdogs]

1. The song needs a title.

Lets see...... "My Hunk'a Hunk'a Blubber?"

"Fat Bottom Girl?"