Humpback Whales Page #3

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the fittest mate.

One day, just as the other

male rivals swam away,

the male and female pair

stayed around

and circled our boat

for well over an hour.

At first, we thought the female

was swimming upside down

and using the boat

to discourage the male.

But as we watched

the pair circle

and dance around each other

and us,

it became clear

that at least in this case,

the female was following him

as much as the male

was following her.

Was this courtship?

Was she trying to attract him?

This is what we think

may be happening,

but until we see mating,

we can just never be sure.

For me, these are

the best kind of days,

when new observations

lead to new questions.

NARRATOR:
When Meagan

is out studying whales,

she sometimes runs

into the real dangers they face,

like loose, floating debris.

MAN:

major threat to the animals.

NARRATOR:
More than half of

these humpback whales bear scars

from being tangled up in ropes

and fishing nets.

This humpback whale population

is growing,

but we think worldwide

the humpback population

may be only 40% of what it was

before whaling began.

Some of the most serious

problems facing whales

have no immediate solution.

But when individual whales

get entangled,

some of them can be saved

by rescue teams,

like the one here in Hawaii.

MAN:
Joe, let's see

if we can get underway in five.

MAN 2:

GPS coordinates set.

(indistinct chatter)

NARRATOR:
Most rescues start

with a phone call from a boater.

Reporting entangled whales

is one important way

to help humpbacks.

MAN (over walkie-talkie):

Looking for your position.

NARRATOR:
The team caught up

to the entangled whale

in just under an hour.

ED LYMAN:
This young,

energetic humpback whale

was trailing more than 200 feet

of line and buoys behind it.

NARRATOR:

Each entanglement is different,

so team leader Ed Lyman

has to keep adjusting

his strategy.

MAN:
Keep an eye out.

We don't want to lose it.

NARRATOR:
If this young whale

is not set free by Ed's team,

he could die from infection,

starvation

or even drowning.

A key tool is their grapple.

That's how they hook

onto the trailing gear

and then pull themselves close

enough to cut the whale free.

LYMAN:

We attach a transmitter

to help track the whale,

in case we lose it,

and buoys to keep it

from diving deep.

NARRATOR:

Even with extensive training,

it's dangerous

for Ed and Joe to get so close

to a huge animal under stress.

LYMAN:

We work entirely from boats.

People have been killed jumping

in the water to cut whales free.

MAN:

Let's be careful here!

LYMAN:
If we hear signs of

stress, like a trumpeting blow,

we back off.

(snorts)

Our pole cam gives us

an underwater view

and helps us see

what's going on.

We need to get this gear off.

These wounds are... are bad.

These young ones,

they're unpredictable.

Our whale makes a sudden U-turn

and snags his gear

on a nearby boat,

so we race back

to cut the boat free.

You got it? Okay, good.

Next side.

LYMAN:
As soon as we cut

that line, he takes right off.

Even dragging all those buoys,

the whale is just pulling us

too fast.

We actually got

what the old-time whalers call

a Nantucket sleigh ride.

Let me help you.

(indistinct chatter)

- Still running hard.

- Yeah.

LYMAN:
We attach a sea anchor

to slow it down.

Okay, knife is out.

You're doing good.

Okay, here,

I'm right beside you.

NARRATOR:
Finally,

the whale slows down enough

to give Ed a clean angle.

So he moves in for the cut.

Perfect. Right there.

And... here comes.

Okay!

(indistinct chatter)

- Okay.

- Oh, nice slice!

(WHOOPS)

(whale bellows)

(whale singing)

NARRATOR:

It all went their way today,

but it doesn't always work out.

Even Ed's heroic team

can't save every whale.

But you and I can help reduce

the number

of entangled humpbacks.

Encourage the use

of whale-safe gear,

and keep debris out

of the ocean.

LYMAN:

I'm in awe of humpback whales.

For centuries,

men in boats brought them pain

and death.

It brings us such joy

to flip that around

and bring them life instead.

NARRATOR:

It took hundreds of years

for people all across the world

to wake up

and hear the song

of the humpbacks.

TAKAU:

In the early days,

humpbacks were known

as our guardians.

Now it's our turn.

(whales singing)

NARRATOR:

Future generations of scientists

have their work cut out

for them.

Each new insight scientists gain

into these remarkable whales

helps us protect them against

the growing threats they face.

Oceans cover 71% of our planet,

and humpbacks roam them all.

Just one look in their eye

will tell you

we have much more to learn

about their world.

And to think,

we nearly missed that chance.

(whale singing)

I had a dream

so big and loud

I jumped so high

I touched the clouds

Whoa, oh, oh, oh,

oh, oh, oh

Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

I stretched my hands out

to the sky

We danced with monsters

through the night

Whoa, oh, oh, oh,

oh, oh, oh

Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

I'm never gonna look back,

whoa

I'm never

gonna give it up, no

Please don't wake me now

Two, three, four

Whoo, whoo, ooh, ooh

This is gonna be the best day

of my life

Whoo, whoo, ooh, ooh

My li-i-i-i-i-ife

Whoo, whoo, ooh, ooh

This is gonna be the best day

of my life

Whoo, whoo, ooh, ooh

My li-i-i-i-i-ife.

(whale singing)

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