Marine Biologists are noting new behaviors among Grey whales.

July 10, 2009 1:26 PM

Calving mothers are seeking out human contact. (SLNYT) “It’s extraordinary,” she said. “At precisely the time when you’d expect them to be the most defensive, they’re incredibly social." A lengthy article about the state of whale-human relations built around events at Baja.
posted by BigLankyBastard (16 comments total)

Wonderful article. Thanks, BLB.
posted by Kikkoman at 2:07 PM on July 10, 2009

Wow, it'd be so cool if the reason why the Friendlies exist is because JJ grew up and let them know that those hairless apes weren't so bad after all.

Kind of like when Geordi taught Hugh to be cool and thus began a Borg sect that didn't try to assimilate everyone aaaaaand I'm a nerd
posted by danny the boy at 2:40 PM on July 10, 2009 [5 favorites]

"What was it like to be in the water with a 45-foot, 70-ton animal?"
posted by homunculus at 3:31 PM on July 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

That was beautiful. Have to add this to my list of things to see before I die.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 3:39 PM on July 10, 2009

I bet whales wouldn't have run the economy into the shitter.

The last two paragraphs... woah.
posted by Artful Codger at 4:25 PM on July 10, 2009 [2 favorites]

So now even whales are using babies as attention-grabbing fashion accessories.

WAY TO GO HOLLYWOOD
posted by Sys Rq at 4:55 PM on July 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

thank you!
posted by noway at 5:23 PM on July 10, 2009

i fought the woo-woo but the woo-woo won.
posted by mwhybark at 5:52 PM on July 10, 2009

It's interesting that a great white shark brain weighs about 1-2 ounces while a sperm whale brain weighs up to 19 pounds. I have to wonder if perhaps whales are the great thinkers of the sea.
posted by crapmatic at 7:15 PM on July 10, 2009

An incredibly wonderful piece. Thank you!
posted by rtha at 8:01 PM on July 10, 2009

Frustrating and inspiring. It's like tossing Sid Viscious into the middle of the Vienna Philharmonic string section. We are fucking up their jams.
posted by sid abotu at 11:26 PM on July 10, 2009

Great article. I wish I had more to say, other than 'wow'. I've always thought whales (and animals in general) had much more 'consciousness' than we knew, but the bits at the end, and especially the mention of the trapped humpback, were awesome.

I guess it's time to go play my favorite crazy hippie game, Save the Whales (highly recommended!).
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 1:11 PM on July 11, 2009

That blew me away. Thanks for posting!
posted by Narin at 2:31 PM on July 11, 2009

Thank you.
posted by chance at 8:28 PM on July 11, 2009

I do believe that was the most gorgeous article I've ever read online. My favorite line: "I've never felt so beheld in my life."

Thank you!
posted by ohyouknow at 9:26 AM on July 12, 2009

Drowning diver saved by beluga whale
posted by homunculus at 8:16 AM on July 30, 2009