He found almost normal buddies.
September 13, 2018 6:30 PM Subscribe
A young narwhal has been hanging out with a pod of beluga whales, about 1000 km south of where he should be hanging out. But they're friends.
More information from the Group for Education and Research on Marine Mammals, who observed the narwhal and his almost normal buddies in 2016 and 2017, as well.
More information from the Group for Education and Research on Marine Mammals, who observed the narwhal and his almost normal buddies in 2016 and 2017, as well.
I've had a long-running joke with MuddDude about how I believe narwhals are a big practical joke that the scientific community is playing on me, specifically - like, if I ever break down and admit that I think narwhals are real, a bunch of marine biologists will jump out from behind a pillar and shout, "Gotcha, you gullible fool!"
But this is taking it a step too far.
posted by muddgirl at 7:04 PM on September 13, 2018 [8 favorites]
But this is taking it a step too far.
posted by muddgirl at 7:04 PM on September 13, 2018 [8 favorites]
So what you're saying is he's swimming so wild, swimming so free?
posted by curious nu at 7:13 PM on September 13, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by curious nu at 7:13 PM on September 13, 2018 [7 favorites]
TIL belugas and narwhals are closely related. I wonder what the dinner table conversation was like when teenage narwhal started growing out the horn.
posted by Space Coyote at 7:31 PM on September 13, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Space Coyote at 7:31 PM on September 13, 2018 [4 favorites]
Dudes. OK if I hang out? Promise not to poke anyone...
posted by jim in austin at 7:46 PM on September 13, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by jim in austin at 7:46 PM on September 13, 2018 [4 favorites]
But Martin Nweeia, a researcher at Harvard University who has been studying narwhals for nearly two decades, said given how social both species are, he thinks they'd be similarly capable of caring and compassion.
"I don't think it should surprise people. ... I think it shows … the compassion and the openness of other species to welcome another member that may not look or act the same. And maybe that's a good lesson for everyone."
posted by vespabelle at 7:59 PM on September 13, 2018 [11 favorites]
Pretty sure that's just another beluga, cosplaying a narwhal.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:00 PM on September 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:00 PM on September 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
It's like your friend Randy that hung out with you in sophomore year, the guy that always carried a buck knife for some reason.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:10 PM on September 13, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:10 PM on September 13, 2018 [7 favorites]
BEST FRANDS
posted by poffin boffin at 8:16 PM on September 13, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 8:16 PM on September 13, 2018 [3 favorites]
What the heck is a narwhal? Is this something everyone knows about?
posted by double bubble at 8:34 PM on September 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by double bubble at 8:34 PM on September 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
Only the unicorn of the sea, dude.
posted by Segundus at 8:56 PM on September 13, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Segundus at 8:56 PM on September 13, 2018 [16 favorites]
Narwhals are so awesome.
posted by Sequined Ballet Flats at 9:02 PM on September 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Sequined Ballet Flats at 9:02 PM on September 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oh sure, it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.
posted by JackFlash at 9:24 PM on September 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by JackFlash at 9:24 PM on September 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
That's adorable.
posted by homunculus at 9:50 PM on September 13, 2018
posted by homunculus at 9:50 PM on September 13, 2018
I'm glad he's not lonely and found some buds to hang out with, so he doesn't end up chasing boats or whatever like some lost whales.
posted by tavella at 9:52 PM on September 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by tavella at 9:52 PM on September 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
"They are in constant contact with each other," Michaud said. "It's a like a big social ball of young juveniles that are playing some social, sexual games."
Sounds more like a school, than a pod.
posted by The otter lady at 10:04 PM on September 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
Sounds more like a school, than a pod.
posted by The otter lady at 10:04 PM on September 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
Only the unicorn of the sea, dude.
And people make fun of me for knowing narwhals aren't real, just like unicorns.
posted by muddgirl at 10:50 PM on September 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
And people make fun of me for knowing narwhals aren't real, just like unicorns.
posted by muddgirl at 10:50 PM on September 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
The narwhal itself hasn't been named, Michaud said, as the group doesn't tend to name "vagrants" — "because we don't know when they will leave."
He's been with them 3 years; he's not a vagrant, give him a name! I mean, his buddies probably already came up with a nickname like ClickBubblePoke, but if I was one of those researchers he woulda got a name the first year.
posted by achrise at 5:05 AM on September 14, 2018 [11 favorites]
He's been with them 3 years; he's not a vagrant, give him a name! I mean, his buddies probably already came up with a nickname like ClickBubblePoke, but if I was one of those researchers he woulda got a name the first year.
posted by achrise at 5:05 AM on September 14, 2018 [11 favorites]
Spike.
posted by Segundus at 6:17 AM on September 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Segundus at 6:17 AM on September 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
Hopefully they will protect him from killer whales, because those feckers are PSYCHOPATHIC narwhal-murderers! (No, I'm not going to link to that, do so at your own risk)
posted by SinAesthetic at 8:11 AM on September 14, 2018
posted by SinAesthetic at 8:11 AM on September 14, 2018
Lance.
posted by droplet at 10:02 AM on September 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by droplet at 10:02 AM on September 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
PointDexter
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:45 AM on September 14, 2018
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:45 AM on September 14, 2018
Pokey McPokeface
posted by The otter lady at 12:19 PM on September 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by The otter lady at 12:19 PM on September 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
"The Unicorn King" - In a time of devastation; a young orphan finds family, romance, and the strength to lead his people in a glorious fight for survival and vengeance.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 1:05 PM on September 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by mrjohnmuller at 1:05 PM on September 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
Oh sure, it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.
Oh my God mom. We thought you died 50 years ago!
posted by notreally at 2:09 PM on September 14, 2018
Oh my God mom. We thought you died 50 years ago!
posted by notreally at 2:09 PM on September 14, 2018
> Hopefully they will protect him from killer whales, because those feckers are PSYCHOPATHIC narwhal-murderers!
:ahem: This is BLATANT anti-orca propaganda perpetuated by Big Pinniped and National Narwhal. Killer whales are ACTUALLY incredibly beautiful, intelligent, and socially complex apex predators, who are merely PARTICIPATING in the NATURAL CIRCLE of LIFE...
...and, well, yes, also sadistic jerks at times, true.
(I still love ’em, though.)
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 9:58 AM on September 21, 2018
:ahem: This is BLATANT anti-orca propaganda perpetuated by Big Pinniped and National Narwhal. Killer whales are ACTUALLY incredibly beautiful, intelligent, and socially complex apex predators, who are merely PARTICIPATING in the NATURAL CIRCLE of LIFE...
...and, well, yes, also sadistic jerks at times, true.
(I still love ’em, though.)
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 9:58 AM on September 21, 2018
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