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Witness History: The Discovery of Whale Song

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The Discovery of Whalesong

07/12/2017 GMT

The Discovery of Whale Song

BBC World Service - Witness History, The Discovery of Whale Song

Whales were being hunted to extinction until a biologist realised they could sing.

Whales were being hunted to extinction, when in 1967, a biologist realised they could sing. It changed the perception of whales and helped found the modern conservation movement.

In 1967 a biologist began listening to strange sounds recorded way out at sea, he realised it was whales and that they were singing. Claire Bowes has been talking to Dr Roger Payne about the discovery that helped change people's perception of whales and helped found the modern conservation movement at a time when whales were close to extinction. 

(Photo: Humpback Whale, courtesy of Christian Miller of Ocean Alliance)

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