Narwhal Numbers Declining Rapidly - BBC

[hatrack]

The narwhal, a marine mammal known best for its single, unicorn-like tusk, may be under threat after aerial surveys showed a decline in its numbers. Hunting and local climate change in the Greenland waters where it usually lives may be to blame, researcher Dr Mads Peter Heide-Joergensen believes.

The monitoring suggests there has been a population fall of 10% over 17 years - and this may be an underestimate. Details are outlined in a zoological journal called Marine Mammal Science.

The 2001 survey, repeated four times, covered an area of 840 sq km and counted 360 narwhals. The 2002 survey, repeated seven times covered an area of 2,208 sq km and counted 566 narwhals. When compared with the results of surveys conducted in 1985 and 1986, the estimates show a 10% decline over the 17-year period.

However, Dr Heide-Joergensen said the decline could be much bigger because the 80s studies did not correct for perception bias, which is designed to take account of the fact that some whales may be present at the surface and not seen by the observers."

EDIT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3587251.stm

[jpak]

1. I had the privilege of seeing a pod of 50+ narwhals

off the coast of Ellesmere Island.

They were swimming along the ice edge, tusks thrusting out of the water, blowing mist high in the air.

No one said a word the whole time they were in sight.

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2. Very Cool!

How was that that you were off the coast of Ellsmere Island? I've always wanted to visit that part of the world!

[jpak]

3. I spent 4 months doing research on a Canadian Icebreaker

from mid-April to the end of July.

Saw some amazing sights (besides the narwals)...

30 million dovekies (a small seabird) arriving at their breeding ground en mass. When I first saw them, I thought a ship was on fire to the south of us. When they landed, the water was so thick with them it looked like an oil spill...

A huge (100K+ individuals) murre rookery on an 800 foot cliff - the place looked like a beehive with all the birds coming and going...

Lots of polar bears - I once saw a young female pounce on a ringed seal lair and dig it out (she didn't get the seal though).

Lots of walrus, ringed, bearded, hooded and harp seals...

Several highly endangered Eastern Bowhead Whales...

I didn't get to see "the" Ross's gull though - still kicking myself.

I also saw the most terrifying sight of my life.

In early May we had a 60+ knot gale for 2 days. We put the ship deep in the ice pack due to the wave action in the open water.

I was working late (2 AM) one night and noticed the ship was underway. Then the ship started rocking - in the ice. I went out on deck an saw 30 foot swell coming through the icepack - in slow motion.

I was standing on the main deck, 5 meters above the water line, looking UP at the ice pack. I thought - boy if I went in to THAT they would never find me.

I looked forward to see where we were going - right into a nightmare of huge breakers in the open water. The hair stood up on the back of my neck.

I ran back to my work area, secured everything, dogged all the hatches and jumped into my bunk with my clothes on.

The bridge decided the open water was too dangerous to enter, so the brought the ship around to head back into the ice.

We went into trough sideways and for the next 5 minutes experienced 33 degree rolls (the ship was designed to take a maximum roll of 35 degrees). All you could hear was stuff crashing and breaking all over the ship.

Shortly afterwords, I went up on the bridge to report some damage. The crew showed me the video of the incident.

Where I was standing on the deck just minutes earlier was completely submerged by a wave and the vans on the next deck up had impacted the water.

I then went to the bar for a few drinks....

[hatrack]

4. Hmmmm . . . interesting

Maybe I'll raft the Grand Canyon instead of visiting the Canadian Arctic - sounds marginally less dangerous. ;-)

Seriously, though, that sounds like an absolutely amazing voyage - I'm really jealous now.