A satellite tag which unexpectedly kept working for a year has followed one whale’s 15,000km journey across three oceans

A loud bang shatters the winter calm of Port Ross, in New Zealand’s remote Auckland Islands, and the small inflatable boat is rocked by the swirl of a 40-ton whale being swallowed up by the cold, dark water.

When it resurfaces, the team of scientists are happy to see their US$3,200 satellite tag securely fixed to his side. The whale, whom they have nicknamed “Bill”, slips away into the ocean, the tag transmitting his movements. A few days later, researchers watch as he starts heading west towards Australia.

Continue reading…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Wanted: people happy to work for a government that seeks to own their souls | Nick Cohen

No 10’s obsession with ideological purity is forcing the best civil servants…

‘Reminds me of vegetable soup’: how does a £50 cup of coffee taste?

It is the most expensive sold in the UK and served in…

Coronavirus live news: US may begin vaccinations before Christmas; Vietnam sees first case in three months

WHO ‘will do everything’ to find Covid origin; Mexico and Brazil seeing…