google-site-verification: googlec7193c3de77668c9.html

Pygmy blue whales: Citizen scientists in Timor-Leste help research

Timor-Leste has one of the world’s highest concentrations of marine mammals.

During the migration season – October and November – hundreds of pygmy blue whales pass through the country’s waters as they make the epic journey spanning thousands of kilometres from southern Australia into the Banda Sea that lies to the north of Timor-Leste.

But the area has been under-researched, says Prof Edyvane, who started the monitoring programme in 2014.

During whale season over the past decade, she has based herself in Subaun, about 50km (31 miles) from the capital Dili, working with fishermen, students and dive tour operators to document the cetaceans.

They have documented “some of the lesser known, intimate reproductive behaviours of blue whales, some for the very first time,” says Prof Edyvane, who lectures at the Australian National University and Charles Darwin University.

In July, for instance, the team captured underwater footage of a mother nursing her calf, offering a glimpse into the species’ reproductive behaviours, which have remained largely unknown.

“It’s very, very exciting,” she adds.


Source link

Views: 0

See also  Chad condemns Sudan's airport threat as 'declaration of war'

Check Also

Romania’s pro-Europe government falls after PM loses no-confidence vote | World News

Romania’s pro-European coalition government has collapsed, after MPs voted against Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, plunging …

Romanian PM ousted in no-confidence vote

Ilie Bolojan lost the vote after the largest party in his coalition joined the far-right …

Zelensky condemns Russian ‘utter cynicism’ as it strikes ahead of truce

Ahead of its own midnight ceasefire, Ukraine also launched a series of aerial attacks on …

Leave a Reply

Available for Amazon Prime
Start growing your traffic with our automated ad infrastructure.