[NatureNS] grey whale off Israel

From: "Laurie Murison" <gmwhale@nbnet.nb.ca>
To: <NATURENB@LISTSERV.UNB.CA>, <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Date: Sun, 9 May 2010 14:22:57 -0300
Organization: GMWSRS
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

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This is a bit out of range for the Maritimes but the likelihood of this =
sighting is extraordinarily rare so I thought I would pass it on, a grey =
whale off the coast of Israel. =
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/lost-in-search-of-lunch-rare-pacific=
-whale-spotted-off-israel-s-coast-1.289085

The closest Pacific grey whales are an endangered population off Korea =
numbering in the low hundreds.  There is a much larger (20,000+) =
population of grey whales that have recovered off the North America =
Pacific coast.  But the grey whale population in the Atlantic was =
thought to have been wiped out by whalers by the 17th century with no =
sightings occurring since then in the Atlantic.  Where this grey whale =
came from is up for speculation with the Pacific is the most likely, =
although definitely a rather elaborate trip through the Indian Ocean and =
either round the Cape of Good Hope or through the Suez Canal. Since =
baleen whales rarely cross the equator, it wouldn't be expected for the =
eastern Pacific grey whale to head south along the South American coast, =
then around the Horn, across the South Atlantic and up the African =
coast, through the Strait of Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean.   A =
biopsy sample might pinpoint the origin of this whale genetically if it =
is seen again.=20

Could a remnant population of grey whales have existed in the =
Mediterranean for 400 years without being seen?  Leaves one =
thinking.......

Laurie Murison
Grand Manan, NB
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<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>This is a bit out of range for the =
Maritimes but=20
the likelihood of this sighting is extraordinarily rare so I thought I =
would=20
pass it on, a grey whale off the coast of Israel. <A=20
href=3D"http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/lost-in-search-of-lunch-rare=
-pacific-whale-spotted-off-israel-s-coast-1.289085">http://www.haaretz.co=
m/news/national/lost-in-search-of-lunch-rare-pacific-whale-spotted-off-is=
rael-s-coast-1.289085</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>The closest Pacific grey whales are an =
endangered=20
population&nbsp;off Korea numbering in the low hundreds.&nbsp; There is =
a much=20
larger (20,000+) population of&nbsp;grey whales that have recovered off =
the=20
North America Pacific coast.&nbsp; But&nbsp;the<FONT size=3D2 =
face=3DArial> grey=20
whale population in the Atlantic&nbsp;was thought to have been wiped out =
by=20
whalers by the 17th century&nbsp;with no sightings occurring since then =
in the=20
Atlantic.&nbsp; Where this grey whale came from is up for speculation =
with the=20
Pacific is the most likely, although definitely a rather elaborate trip =
through=20
the Indian Ocean and either round the Cape of Good Hope or through the =
Suez=20
Canal.&nbsp;Since baleen whales rarely cross the&nbsp;equator, it =
wouldn't be=20
expected for the eastern Pacific grey whale to head south along the =
South=20
American coast, then around the Horn, across the South Atlantic and up =
the=20
African coast, through the Strait of Gibraltar and into the =
Mediterranean.&nbsp;=20
&nbsp;A biopsy sample might pinpoint the origin of this whale =
genetically if it=20
is seen again. </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2 =
face=3DArial></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>Could a =
remnant population=20
of grey whales have existed in the Mediterranean for 400 years without =
being=20
seen?&nbsp; Leaves one thinking.......</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>Laurie Murison</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>Grand Manan, =
NB</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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