Transcript:
Imagine you are a whale. You are bigger than the school bus and spend time swimming in the Arctic. Maybe you have been in history for over a century.
Davin: “That means you remember that the only noise in the ocean in your habitat comes from winds, sea ice and waves, and all kinds of clicks, whistles and songs created by other wildlife.”
But Sam Davin of the World Wildlife Foundation in Canada said today that the Arctic is no longer so quiet.
It is filled with drones of ship propellers and air gun explosions for oil and gas exploration.
For whales, noise is not only a matter of disturbing peace.
DAVIN: “It's hard for you to navigate. It's hard for you to communicate. It's hard for you to avoid danger.”
Research shows that underwater noise can cause bowed whales to approach shore, reducing calls and changing their diving cycles.
And the Arctic is getting bigger and bigger. As the climate warms, Arctic sea ice melts, which makes more ship traffic in the region.
Therefore, Davin's organization advocates that governments monitor and regulate underwater noise to help protect bowheads and other vulnerable animals.
Report Credit: Sarah Kennedy/Chavobart Digital Media
