Main content

The Discovery of Whale Song

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)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Thu 7 Dec 2017 08:50GMT

Broadcast

  • Thu 7 Dec 2017 08:50GMT

Featured in...

Podcast