Another (passive) characteristic has been found in numerous gray whales since the
1960s: foul odour, which makes the meat inedible for both humans and animals.
These so-called ‘stinky whales’ occur only on the Chukotkan Peninsula and have
been reported by Chukchi whalers. The cause of this phenomenon is unknown but it
is surmised that whale metabolism has changed due to limitations in the food supply
and availability, different or new foods, biotoxins or disease. Notably, also some
seals, walrus, fish and murre eggs display this phenomenon. Between 1999 and 2007
an additional phenomenon referred to as ‘skinny whales’ could be found. These
emaciated whales were of extremely poor condition but the causes also remain
unknown. It is possible that habitat degradation, changes in the availability of
food, stress or disease may have caused the ‘skinny whale’ phenomenon.
17
The IUCN lists the gray whale as ‘least concern’ since its population status has
recovered over the last three generations, despite some fluctuation. This, however,
only accounts for the eastern North Pacific Ocean population. The western North
Pacific population is possibly extinct.
18 Throughout the spring and summer of 2019,
an unusually large number of gray whale carcasses could be found on the coasts of
North America. Whether this was a one-time mortality event is under investigation at
the time of writing. Yet, since the dead whales were emaciated, scientists believed
food shortage and possibly the effects of warming waters have contributed to this
event.
2.1.7 Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
The sperm whale is the only species in the genus Physeter. Although in the past there
was some disagreement over the genetic affiliation of sperm whales or whether there
are in fact several species of Physeter, the contemporary view is that there is merely
one species, Physeter macrocephalus.
The sperm whale displays unique characteristics and is a ‘poster species’ for what
constitutes the ‘superwhale’: it is very large and holds a very large brain; it lives very
long lives with no predators other than orcas and humans. This has allowed the
sperm whale to be able to develop deep social bonds with other sperm whales, which
have made the effects of hunting go beyond the actual animals killed; it dives
extremely deep and thus spends most of its time under water. The sperm whale is
the whale species which in many ways resembles the African elephant (Loxodonta
africana) physically and socially. One of the main features of the sperm whale is the
spermaceti organ, a complex organ in the massive nasal complex of the whale. This
organ which comprises spongy tissue may have contributed to being able to gain
access to a wide array of food and may be the cetacean equivalent to the trunk of the
elephant. This, however, is not the only parallel and it is particularly the complex
17 Jones and Swartz (2008), pp. 503–511.
18 Cooke (2018d).
2.1 Whales
21
1960s: foul odour, which makes the meat inedible for both humans and animals.
These so-called ‘stinky whales’ occur only on the Chukotkan Peninsula and have
been reported by Chukchi whalers. The cause of this phenomenon is unknown but it
is surmised that whale metabolism has changed due to limitations in the food supply
and availability, different or new foods, biotoxins or disease. Notably, also some
seals, walrus, fish and murre eggs display this phenomenon. Between 1999 and 2007
an additional phenomenon referred to as ‘skinny whales’ could be found. These
emaciated whales were of extremely poor condition but the causes also remain
unknown. It is possible that habitat degradation, changes in the availability of
food, stress or disease may have caused the ‘skinny whale’ phenomenon.
17
The IUCN lists the gray whale as ‘least concern’ since its population status has
recovered over the last three generations, despite some fluctuation. This, however,
only accounts for the eastern North Pacific Ocean population. The western North
Pacific population is possibly extinct.
18 Throughout the spring and summer of 2019,
an unusually large number of gray whale carcasses could be found on the coasts of
North America. Whether this was a one-time mortality event is under investigation at
the time of writing. Yet, since the dead whales were emaciated, scientists believed
food shortage and possibly the effects of warming waters have contributed to this
event.
2.1.7 Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
The sperm whale is the only species in the genus Physeter. Although in the past there
was some disagreement over the genetic affiliation of sperm whales or whether there
are in fact several species of Physeter, the contemporary view is that there is merely
one species, Physeter macrocephalus.
The sperm whale displays unique characteristics and is a ‘poster species’ for what
constitutes the ‘superwhale’: it is very large and holds a very large brain; it lives very
long lives with no predators other than orcas and humans. This has allowed the
sperm whale to be able to develop deep social bonds with other sperm whales, which
have made the effects of hunting go beyond the actual animals killed; it dives
extremely deep and thus spends most of its time under water. The sperm whale is
the whale species which in many ways resembles the African elephant (Loxodonta
africana) physically and socially. One of the main features of the sperm whale is the
spermaceti organ, a complex organ in the massive nasal complex of the whale. This
organ which comprises spongy tissue may have contributed to being able to gain
access to a wide array of food and may be the cetacean equivalent to the trunk of the
elephant. This, however, is not the only parallel and it is particularly the complex
17 Jones and Swartz (2008), pp. 503–511.
18 Cooke (2018d).
2.1 Whales
21