“The world’s loneliest whale may not be alone after all” – BBC Earth

THE “LONELIEST WHALE IN THE WORLD” HAS GAINED FAME AS A LEVIATHAN that travels the world’s oceans emitting a unique call in an unrequited search for another of its kind.

At least, that’s the legend surrounding the “52-Hertz Whale,” so-called because his whale song is so different from those of other whales. Although similar to blue whale calls, they come at a frequency of 52Hz, much higher than blue and fin whales.

UNSEEN BY HUMAN EYES BUT HEARD BY HUMAN EARS

Its singular song has been recorded at listening posts around the planet. And around his travels, a legend grew – that it is perhaps the last of its species, or a hybrid of blue and fin whales, forever doomed to call out for a companion that will never come.

Now an article from BBC Earth suggests that the Lonely Guy may not be Mr. Solo after all. His song may be a variation on normal blue and fin whale calls and not impossibly singular. And, in fact, his call is changing.

PRINCIPAL SOURCES: “The world’s loneliest whale may not be alone after all,” BBC Earth;  “The Loneliest Whale in the World?” Washington Post.