I was seeing six blue whales in an area the size of a soccer pitch I’ve got out
the size of a soccer pitch I’ve got out
the size of a soccer pitch I’ve got out to name them the unorthodox whales
to name them the unorthodox whales
to name them the unorthodox whales because they actually break the
because they actually break the
because they actually break the stereotypes we had for this species it
stereotypes we had for this species it
stereotypes we had for this species it has set me on an incredible adventure I
was back in 2003 I was working on a
was back in 2003 I was working on a whale research vessel that was
whale research vessel that was
whale research vessel that was circumnavigating the globe
circumnavigating the globe
circumnavigating the globe on this particular day of significance I
on this particular day of significance I
on this particular day of significance I was standing up on deck straining my
was standing up on deck straining my
was standing up on deck straining my eyes looking out for this part of sperma
eyes looking out for this part of sperma
eyes looking out for this part of sperma that we trapped all night long I could
that we trapped all night long I could
that we trapped all night long I could hear their sounds emanating from the
hear their sounds emanating from the
hear their sounds emanating from the pilothouse below me but I just couldn’t
pilothouse below me but I just couldn’t
pilothouse below me but I just couldn’t see them I knew what I was looking for
see them I knew what I was looking for
see them I knew what I was looking for this short lofty blue slanted off to the
this short lofty blue slanted off to the
this short lofty blue slanted off to the left-hand side super characteristic of
left-hand side super characteristic of
left-hand side super characteristic of sperm whale I searched and I looked for
sperm whale I searched and I looked for
sperm whale I searched and I looked for hours and end and I couldn’t find them
hours and end and I couldn’t find them
hours and end and I couldn’t find them but then I saw this at all powerful
but then I saw this at all powerful
but then I saw this at all powerful vertical blow that rose all the way to
vertical blow that rose all the way to
vertical blow that rose all the way to the sky as far as I could tell this
the sky as far as I could tell this
the sky as far as I could tell this animal was at least 2 kilometers away
animal was at least 2 kilometers away
animal was at least 2 kilometers away from us but it was an incredible sight
from us but it was an incredible sight
from us but it was an incredible sight and I knew it could only come from an
and I knew it could only come from an
and I knew it could only come from an animal it was incredibly large and
animal it was incredibly large and
animal it was incredibly large and powerful so I got super excited as you
powerful so I got super excited as you
powerful so I got super excited as you would as well and I grabbed my
would as well and I grabbed my
would as well and I grabbed my walkie-talkie and I called down to my
walkie-talkie and I called down to my
walkie-talkie and I called down to my captain I said Bob Bob 11 o’clock 2
captain I said Bob Bob 11 o’clock 2
captain I said Bob Bob 11 o’clock 2 kilometers go go go and he says why and
kilometers go go go and he says why and
kilometers go go go and he says why and I said I think it’s a blue whale and he
I said I think it’s a blue whale and he
I said I think it’s a blue whale and he says sure gets off course starts
says sure gets off course starts
says sure gets off course starts cruising the direction that I’ve now
cruising the direction that I’ve now
cruising the direction that I’ve now sent him off in and I am now like so
sent him off in and I am now like so
sent him off in and I am now like so afraid and paranoid to lose this visual
afraid and paranoid to lose this visual
afraid and paranoid to lose this visual my eyes are streaming as I stand into
my eyes are streaming as I stand into
my eyes are streaming as I stand into the glare I’m trying so hard to just
the glare I’m trying so hard to just
the glare I’m trying so hard to just focus and that’s when I think I started
focus and that’s when I think I started
focus and that’s when I think I started to lose my mind because it wasn’t just
to lose my mind because it wasn’t just
to lose my mind because it wasn’t just one blue L I was seeing I was seeing six
one blue L I was seeing I was seeing six
one blue L I was seeing I was seeing six blue whales in an area the size of a
blue whales in an area the size of a
blue whales in an area the size of a soccer pitch I’m thinking to myself why
soccer pitch I’m thinking to myself why
soccer pitch I’m thinking to myself why on earth would an animal the largest
on earth would an animal the largest
on earth would an animal the largest that has ever roamed the planet with the
that has ever roamed the planet with the
that has ever roamed the planet with the freedom to like travel 70% of our planet
freedom to like travel 70% of our planet
freedom to like travel 70% of our planet choose to just aggregate in this tiny
choose to just aggregate in this tiny
choose to just aggregate in this tiny little spot in a warm tropical ocean so
little spot in a warm tropical ocean so
little spot in a warm tropical ocean so I was fresh out of undergrad and I
I was fresh out of undergrad and I
I was fresh out of undergrad and I started to think about what I’ve been
started to think about what I’ve been
started to think about what I’ve been thought thought about my textbooks and
thought thought about my textbooks and
thought thought about my textbooks and what my professors had said and I
what my professors had said and I
what my professors had said and I remembered large whales like blue whales
remembered large whales like blue whales
remembered large whales like blue whales undertake long-range migrations between
undertake long-range migrations between
undertake long-range migrations between cold feeding areas and warm breeding and
cold feeding areas and warm breeding and
cold feeding areas and warm breeding and carving areas that was it I was super
carving areas that was it I was super
carving areas that was it I was super stoked I was going to be the first
stoked I was going to be the first
stoked I was going to be the first person on the planet to document
person on the planet to document
person on the planet to document blue whales having sex so I you know I
blue whales having sex so I you know I
blue whales having sex so I you know I thought this is awesome my career’s made
thought this is awesome my career’s made
thought this is awesome my career’s made fame and fortune what do people complain
fame and fortune what do people complain
fame and fortune what do people complain about this is so easy gosh
about this is so easy gosh
about this is so easy gosh so I’m there egging the captain on I’m
so I’m there egging the captain on I’m
so I’m there egging the captain on I’m like Bob we have to go this is going to
like Bob we have to go this is going to
like Bob we have to go this is going to be incredible so we’re moving forward
be incredible so we’re moving forward
be incredible so we’re moving forward getting there but work moving as fast as
getting there but work moving as fast as
getting there but work moving as fast as this boat can take us and we get there
this boat can take us and we get there
this boat can take us and we get there and it is not what you think it is
and it is not what you think it is
and it is not what you think it is there’s not a single whale penis in
there’s not a single whale penis in
there’s not a single whale penis in sight I am super disappointed because
sight I am super disappointed because
sight I am super disappointed because these whales are now lolling at the
these whales are now lolling at the
these whales are now lolling at the surface hanging out occasionally one
surface hanging out occasionally one
surface hanging out occasionally one will dive come back up and I’m like what
will dive come back up and I’m like what
will dive come back up and I’m like what the heck is going on my dreams that I
the heck is going on my dreams that I
the heck is going on my dreams that I had created for the last two kilometers
had created for the last two kilometers
had created for the last two kilometers of my life were completely shattered
of my life were completely shattered
of my life were completely shattered and I was like oh my god what am I going
and I was like oh my god what am I going
and I was like oh my god what am I going to do with my life but I insisted that
to do with my life but I insisted that
to do with my life but I insisted that we stayed around and watched for a
we stayed around and watched for a
we stayed around and watched for a little cuz you know this is my first
little cuz you know this is my first
little cuz you know this is my first blue whale or six and that’s when I saw
blue whale or six and that’s when I saw
blue whale or six and that’s when I saw this this ladies and gentlemen is a pile
this this ladies and gentlemen is a pile
this this ladies and gentlemen is a pile of blue whale poop what’s most exciting
of blue whale poop what’s most exciting
of blue whale poop what’s most exciting about this is not just the stunning red
about this is not just the stunning red
about this is not just the stunning red color but the fact that there was poo
color but the fact that there was poo
color but the fact that there was poo which meant these animals were feeding
which meant these animals were feeding
which meant these animals were feeding somewhere close now remember I told you
somewhere close now remember I told you
somewhere close now remember I told you the start blue whales
the start blue whales
the start blue whales undertake long-range migrations between
undertake long-range migrations between
undertake long-range migrations between cold feeding areas and warm breeding and
cold feeding areas and warm breeding and
cold feeding areas and warm breeding and carving areas Sri Lanka is five degrees
carving areas Sri Lanka is five degrees
carving areas Sri Lanka is five degrees above the equator as warm and as
above the equator as warm and as
above the equator as warm and as tropical as it can get what the heck how
tropical as it can get what the heck how
tropical as it can get what the heck how the hell were they feeding in these
the hell were they feeding in these
the hell were they feeding in these waters they’re considered unproductive
waters they’re considered unproductive
waters they’re considered unproductive because they’re warm
because they’re warm
because they’re warm this was my Eureka moment not everyone
this was my Eureka moment not everyone
this was my Eureka moment not everyone can say that their career started with
can say that their career started with
can say that their career started with the pilot but I’m pretty pleased to be
the pilot but I’m pretty pleased to be
the pilot but I’m pretty pleased to be able to do that the thing is this moment
able to do that the thing is this moment
able to do that the thing is this moment spiraled into me pioneering bluella
spiraled into me pioneering bluella
spiraled into me pioneering bluella research in the northern Indian Ocean I
research in the northern Indian Ocean I
research in the northern Indian Ocean I launched the first long-term study on
launched the first long-term study on
launched the first long-term study on this population of pretty much unknown
this population of pretty much unknown
this population of pretty much unknown blue whales crazy but true and it has
blue whales crazy but true and it has
blue whales crazy but true and it has set me on an incredible adventure in the
set me on an incredible adventure in the
set me on an incredible adventure in the intervening years I have discovered that
intervening years I have discovered that
intervening years I have discovered that in fact these waters because of the
in fact these waters because of the
in fact these waters because of the enclosed nature of the northern Indian
enclosed nature of the northern Indian
enclosed nature of the northern Indian Ocean the situation of Sri Lanka’s
Ocean the situation of Sri Lanka’s
Ocean the situation of Sri Lanka’s southern coast is extremely productive
southern coast is extremely productive
southern coast is extremely productive for that latitude I’ve gone on to name
for that latitude I’ve gone on to name
for that latitude I’ve gone on to name them the unorthodox whales because they
them the unorthodox whales because they
them the unorthodox whales because they actually break the stereotypes we had
actually break the stereotypes we had
actually break the stereotypes we had for this species they don’t undertake
for this species they don’t undertake
for this species they don’t undertake long-range migrations they actually have
long-range migrations they actually have
long-range migrations they actually have a very limited range they hang out all
a very limited range they hang out all
a very limited range they hang out all year round in warm tropical waters of
year round in warm tropical waters of
year round in warm tropical waters of the northern Indian Ocean there’s the
the northern Indian Ocean there’s the
the northern Indian Ocean there’s the smallest of the blue whales that you’ll
smallest of the blue whales that you’ll
smallest of the blue whales that you’ll find in the oceans
find in the oceans
find in the oceans they’re called pygmy blue whales they
they’re called pygmy blue whales they
they’re called pygmy blue whales they grow 280 feet not a hundred they have a
grow 280 feet not a hundred they have a
grow 280 feet not a hundred they have a different acoustic dialect they also
different acoustic dialect they also
different acoustic dialect they also have different behaviors they lift their
have different behaviors they lift their
have different behaviors they lift their tail flukes up before a deep dive more
tail flukes up before a deep dive more
tail flukes up before a deep dive more often than anywhere else in the world so
often than anywhere else in the world so
often than anywhere else in the world so you’ll see this about 60% of the time
you’ll see this about 60% of the time
you’ll see this about 60% of the time whereas anywhere else less than 20%
whereas anywhere else less than 20%
whereas anywhere else less than 20% the time it’s a photographer’s dream
the time it’s a photographer’s dream
the time it’s a photographer’s dream destination blue well everyone in the
destination blue well everyone in the
destination blue well everyone in the world that calls steno faggus because
world that calls steno faggus because
world that calls steno faggus because they’re very specific they feed on one
they’re very specific they feed on one
they’re very specific they feed on one single thing krill these guys feed on
single thing krill these guys feed on
single thing krill these guys feed on something different but the key thing
something different but the key thing
something different but the key thing here is that they have all these
here is that they have all these
here is that they have all these different behaviors and adaptations
different behaviors and adaptations
different behaviors and adaptations because they are living in a very
because they are living in a very
because they are living in a very confined space over a very limited range
confined space over a very limited range
confined space over a very limited range and during the course of my work I’ve
and during the course of my work I’ve
and during the course of my work I’ve also met the oldest blue whale in our
also met the oldest blue whale in our
also met the oldest blue whale in our population I took this photograph in
population I took this photograph in
population I took this photograph in 2011 on a documentary shoot and as soon
2011 on a documentary shoot and as soon
2011 on a documentary shoot and as soon as I saw the markings I thought to
as I saw the markings I thought to
as I saw the markings I thought to myself I have seen you before
myself I have seen you before
myself I have seen you before luckily not a lot of work had gone on
luckily not a lot of work had gone on
luckily not a lot of work had gone on before on these whales in fact there was
before on these whales in fact there was
before on these whales in fact there was only one paper that existed in the
only one paper that existed in the
only one paper that existed in the history of our nation and that was done
history of our nation and that was done
history of our nation and that was done in 1984 and you can see and I’ve named
in 1984 and you can see and I’ve named
in 1984 and you can see and I’ve named it whale and tyne but the point is this
it whale and tyne but the point is this
it whale and tyne but the point is this animal is at least 27 years old and it’s
animal is at least 27 years old and it’s
animal is at least 27 years old and it’s living in our waters but what’s really
living in our waters but what’s really
living in our waters but what’s really cool about this sighting is that you can
cool about this sighting is that you can
cool about this sighting is that you can see where I saw the whale in 2011 was
see where I saw the whale in 2011 was
see where I saw the whale in 2011 was just less than 10 kilometers away from
just less than 10 kilometers away from
just less than 10 kilometers away from where it was sighted in 1984 so we’re
where it was sighted in 1984 so we’re
where it was sighted in 1984 so we’re getting a sense of site fidelity how
getting a sense of site fidelity how
getting a sense of site fidelity how important this area is to these animals
important this area is to these animals
important this area is to these animals we know they’re feeding breeding and
we know they’re feeding breeding and
we know they’re feeding breeding and carving in a very confined space so the
carving in a very confined space so the
carving in a very confined space so the conservation problems they face are far
conservation problems they face are far
conservation problems they face are far more compounded right now my crusade is
more compounded right now my crusade is
more compounded right now my crusade is about saving these whales from getting
about saving these whales from getting
about saving these whales from getting killed by ships the southern coast of
killed by ships the southern coast of
killed by ships the southern coast of Sri Lanka is one of the busiest shipping
Sri Lanka is one of the busiest shipping
Sri Lanka is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world it’s the main artery
lanes in the world it’s the main artery
lanes in the world it’s the main artery through the Indian Ocean
through the Indian Ocean
through the Indian Ocean everything from Singapore to Dubai
everything from Singapore to Dubai
everything from Singapore to Dubai cruises right through these waters
cruises right through these waters
cruises right through these waters here’s some of the data we have the red
here’s some of the data we have the red
here’s some of the data we have the red lines are showing you this dense ship
lines are showing you this dense ship
lines are showing you this dense ship traffic the black dots those are whale
traffic the black dots those are whale
traffic the black dots those are whale sightings look at the south coast
sightings look at the south coast
sightings look at the south coast there’s a distinct overlap so sightings
there’s a distinct overlap so sightings
there’s a distinct overlap so sightings like this are totally unsurprising this
like this are totally unsurprising this
like this are totally unsurprising this is a whale that came wrapped on the bow
is a whale that came wrapped on the bow
is a whale that came wrapped on the bow of a container ship into the main port
of a container ship into the main port
of a container ship into the main port in Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2012 12 days
in Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2012 12 days
in Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2012 12 days later we had another carcass floating at
later we had another carcass floating at
later we had another carcass floating at sea with a massive propeller gash the
sea with a massive propeller gash the
sea with a massive propeller gash the thing is evidence like this can be a
thing is evidence like this can be a
thing is evidence like this can be a little bit rare because oftentimes the
little bit rare because oftentimes the
little bit rare because oftentimes the carcasses will sink get pushed offshore
carcasses will sink get pushed offshore
carcasses will sink get pushed offshore or the deteriorates so much that when
or the deteriorates so much that when
or the deteriorates so much that when they
they
they want to sure we can’t actually identify
want to sure we can’t actually identify
want to sure we can’t actually identify the cause of death but calculations show
the cause of death but calculations show
the cause of death but calculations show that for every one we document at least
that for every one we document at least
that for every one we document at least 10 have gone undocumented so it’s not an
10 have gone undocumented so it’s not an
10 have gone undocumented so it’s not an isolated incident neither are the
isolated incident neither are the
isolated incident neither are the numbers small 90% of the vessels that
numbers small 90% of the vessels that
numbers small 90% of the vessels that cruise through our waters are actually
cruise through our waters are actually
cruise through our waters are actually bypassing my country they’re not coming
bypassing my country they’re not coming
bypassing my country they’re not coming into port so if we can shift the
into port so if we can shift the
into port so if we can shift the shipping lanes 15 nautical miles
shipping lanes 15 nautical miles
shipping lanes 15 nautical miles offshore we can reduce the problems
offshore we can reduce the problems
offshore we can reduce the problems significantly and then that 10% of
significantly and then that 10% of
significantly and then that 10% of vessels that are actually coming into
vessels that are actually coming into
vessels that are actually coming into port well if they slowed down a little
port well if they slowed down a little
port well if they slowed down a little it would make a difference I’ve done the
it would make a difference I’ve done the
it would make a difference I’ve done the science I’ve created all the awareness
science I’ve created all the awareness
science I’ve created all the awareness and now I’m pushing for policy change
and now I’m pushing for policy change
and now I’m pushing for policy change both at the level of Sri Lankan
both at the level of Sri Lankan
both at the level of Sri Lankan government but also intergovernmental II
government but also intergovernmental II
government but also intergovernmental II because shipping lanes are a slightly
because shipping lanes are a slightly
because shipping lanes are a slightly complex problem but my work is not just
complex problem but my work is not just
complex problem but my work is not just about saving whales my work is about
about saving whales my work is about
about saving whales my work is about showing the talent of the developing
showing the talent of the developing
showing the talent of the developing world I believe that we get local
world I believe that we get local
world I believe that we get local scientists trained so they can start
scientists trained so they can start
scientists trained so they can start looking after their own waters using
looking after their own waters using
looking after their own waters using local solutions that is what creates
local solutions that is what creates
local solutions that is what creates sustainability and I invite all of you
sustainability and I invite all of you
sustainability and I invite all of you to join me on this audacious audacious
to join me on this audacious audacious
to join me on this audacious audacious journey to achieve this for the sake of
journey to achieve this for the sake of
journey to achieve this for the sake of the oceans and humanity thank you you’ll
the oceans and humanity thank you you’ll
the oceans and humanity thank you you’ll come in and you’ll see the the whale
come in and you’ll see the the whale
come in and you’ll see the the whale rotates as it approaches the bottom it’s
rotates as it approaches the bottom it’s
rotates as it approaches the bottom it’s rolling on its side and the camera
rolling on its side and the camera
rolling on its side and the camera twists actually so it’s pointed
twists actually so it’s pointed
twists actually so it’s pointed downwards and you see these little sand
downwards and you see these little sand
downwards and you see these little sand lance fish swarming all over the bottom
lance fish swarming all over the bottom
lance fish swarming all over the bottom that’s the prey that the whales going
that’s the prey that the whales going
that’s the prey that the whales going after
”
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