Global whale "hot spot" discovered off East Timor

[Adsos Letter]

Source: Reuters

Source: Reuters
By Rob Taylor

CANBERRA, Dec 31 (Reuters) - One of the world's highest concentrations of dolphins and whales -- many of them protected species -- has been discovered off the coast of East Timor, local and Australian researchers said on Wednesday.

A "hot spot" of marine cetaceans migrating through deep channels off the Timor coast, including blue and beaked whales, short-finned pilot whales, melon headed whales and six dolphin species was uncovered in a study for the Timor government.

"We were all amazed to see such an abundance, diversity and density of cetaceans. Most of them are actually protected," principal scientist Karen Edyvane told Reuters.

"It's among the world's hot spots for cetaceans," she said. The survey was done by East Timorese researchers and experts from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, working from a traditional 20-metre wooden Indonesian vessel.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SYD418157.htm

[PearliePoo2]

1. Don't tell the Japanese whaling fleet......

:-(
K&R

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. That's really interesting.

I once worked with a melon-headed guy. I wonder if he is there?

[pfitz59]

3. Off of shipping lanes?

My guess is minimal ship traffic = whale-friendly passage between Pacific and Indian Oceans. I may be wrong...

[Ian David]

4. Once Andy Dick shows up, all the whales will leave. n/t

[robinlynne]

5. ssshhhhhhhh.

[zelta gaisma]

6. bet you a nickle there will be a fleet there faster than james bond can get into someones panites

[IndianaGreen]

7. The Japanese "Research" Fleet is steaming in that direction at full speed

May they join Davy Jones!

[S_E_Fudd]

12. Yeah...no kidding...

Almost wish the news hadn't been made public...

I'm sure the Japanese will figure a way to declare these "international waters"

[Barrett808]

8. Imagine that E. Timor declares this area to be a whale sanctuary...

...and then the Nisshin Maru appears to do its "lethal research".

[and-justice-for-all]

9. Dont tell the Japanese!!!! nt

[byeya]

10. World Heritage Site

I hope this area, assuming the research is correct, is declared a World Heritage Site and the East Timorese make it a wildlife refuge. I would contribute annually to the protection of the area.

[The Stranger]

11. Hide them, protect them, keep everyone away from them, have the Navy protect them.

Please, do something before some pieces of shit go try to kill them.

[Seedersandleechers]

13. I do believe Australia protects

their wildlife with a vengeance. Maybe I'm assuming wrong, but I believe the whales are possibly in a good place. At least I hope so.

[LiberalEsto]

14. I'll have a vodka and krill at the Cetacean Bar & Grill

What are you having?