NOC, a nine-year-old whale made human-like-sounds.
Vocal bursts averaged about three per second, with pauses reminiscent of human speech. Analysis of the recordings showed that the frequencies within them were spread out into “harmonics” in a way very unlike whales’ normal vocalizations and more like those of humans.
The mimicry is no easy task for whales. NOC had to modify his vocal mechanics to make human-like- sounds. We did not know whales could do that.
We know so much about animals! And we do not know so much about animals!
oolon says
Phew, given its 2012 I was worried he was going to say – ‘So long, and thanks for all the fish…’
Jockaira says
I had an uncle who sounded like that when he was trying to sing “Mairzy Doats” when he was drunk. Thankfully he never got a recording contract.
Taslima Nasreen says
He sounds like he is reciting the Koranic verses. Some Muslims may say the whale is praying to Allah.
mynameischeese says
He sounds like someone talking into a megaphone from under water. Which, in fairness, is probably what he’s listening to every day from 9 to 5.
The noise probably reminds people of the call to prayer coming from mosques. Oddly enough, when trying to explain that sound in writing a few years ago, I likened it to whales singing.
Winterwind says
If you listen carefully it sounds like he’s a Shia.
The Rose says
“Pa does not love Fa?”
bene.taylor says
Don’t get hung up on this: whales are things we eat…