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Researchers Uncover the Secret to Whales’ Incredible Longevity

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Rithani

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4 min read

26 Dec, 2024

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Recent research reveals that some whale species may live nearly twice as long as previously estimated, with lifespans extending well beyond 100 years.


Published in Science Advances, the study highlights the challenges and breakthroughs in understanding whale longevity, suggesting that researchers may have underestimated the lifespan of several species due to limited data and outdated methods.


Whales are already known for their remarkable longevity, with species like the bowhead whale surpassing 200 years.


Image source: Pexels


However, traditional aging techniques, such as analyzing earwax layers or chemical changes in eye proteins, often rely on scarce tissue samples from deceased animals.


Compounding this difficulty, intense whaling in the 20th century decimated populations of older whales, leaving most of today's whales relatively young and skewing age data.


To address these limitations, researchers used decades of photo records for North Atlantic and southern right whales, identifying individuals by their unique markings and tracking their disappearance from populations.


By applying advanced statistical models often used in human life insurance predictions, scientists deduced that southern right whales have a median lifespan of 73 years, with some living beyond 130 years.


Image source: Pexels


This finding doubles previous estimates that placed their maximum age at around 70 to 80 years.


The study also assessed North Atlantic right whales, which face significant threats from ship collisions and fishing gear entanglements.


These challenges have left the species on the brink of extinction, with a median lifespan of just 22 years and only a small fraction surviving beyond 47 years.


Bowhead whales, known for their slow metabolism and sluggish behavior, remain the leaders in marine longevity.


Image source: Pixabay


However, right whales and other species may also have hidden potential for long lives, obscured by centuries of hunting and incomplete data.


This study emphasizes the need for conservation efforts to protect these majestic creatures and further research to uncover the full scope of their lifespans.


Allowing whales to thrive in undisturbed environments could provide deeper insights into their longevity and resilience, offering a compelling reason to safeguard their future.


Also Read l Humpback Whale Sets Record with 13,000 km Global Journey

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