Scientists track whales via their song

4 Oct 2012, 2:47 pm   -   Source: AAP

Australian scientists are leading the way in tracking elusive blue whales, using new technology to eavesdrop on their distinct songs and tones.

They are largest creatures on the planet but blue whales usually remain elusive in the icy depths of the Southern Ocean.

Now Australian scientists have devised a way to eavesdrop on their distinctive song to help locate the rare mammals, even if they're hundreds of kilometres away.

Using new acoustic technology, Antarctic researchers have significantly improved their chances of finding and studying blue whales in the Southern Ocean.

Blue whale populations were decimated by industrial whalers in the early 1900s, with 25,000 hunted down and slaughtered.

Australia is leading an international effort to estimate their numbers and behaviour, and achieved their latest breakthrough using directional sonobuoys placed in northern Bass Strait earlier this year.

Environment Minister Tony Burke said the breakthrough proved non-lethal research was capable of making enormous scientific gains without harming blue whale populations, which are at threat of extinction.

"This contrasts with Japan's so-called 'scientific whaling' where the alleged research begins with a harpoon," Mr Burke said in a statement.

"This breakthrough project again shows you don't have to kill a whale to study it."

The sonobuoys allowed researchers to record more than 500 hours of audio, including more than 20,000 blue whale songs.

The technology can track the low-frequency calling sounds synonymous with blue whales from hundreds of kilometres away.

Researchers say the technology is 90 per cent successful in tracking the mammal, which can grow up to 31 metres long, a far better result than combing the vast oceans.

The fixed moorings could be used to listen for whale song for up to 15 months, with the technology likely to be used to study migratory patterns of the whales next year.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube