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Science

Hear the Surprising Audio of a Beluga Whale ‘Singing’ Like a Human

Oct. 23, 2012 10:32am Liz Klimas

In a Dr. Dolittle-like story, scientists have captured and analyzed audio of a non-human mammal mimicking human speech.

A beluga whale named Noc, captured while still in its youth in the 1970s, was among the first to be observed demonstrating human mimicry among the whale species. In fact, the whale song sounded so eerily human that divers initially thought it was a human voice. New Scientist reported that in 1984 a diver surfaced in Doc’s tank asking who told him to get “out, out, out”? Turns out it was Noc.

Scientists Analyze Beluga Whales Mimicking Human Speech

Beluga whale and its handler. (Photo: Wikimedia)

New Scientist reported that stories of beluga’s mimicking humans have been shared before, but a new report from the National Marine Mammal Foundation in San Diego is the first time they were analyzed scientifically.

“We were skeptical at first,” Sam Ridgway with the National Marine Mammal Foundation said, according to New Scientist. “They were definitely unlike usual sounds for a [beluga], and similar to human voices in rhythm and acoustic spectrum.”

Listen to a beluga’s human-like singing in this ABC World News report:

An acoustic analysis revealed the sounds were several octaves lower than typical whale calls. The research was published online Monday in Current Biology.

Scientists think the whale’s close proximity to people allowed it to listen to and mimic human conversation. It did so by changing the pressure in its nasal cavities. After four years of copying people, it went back to sounding like a whale, emitting high-pitched noises. It died five years ago.

Dolphins and parrots have been taught to mimic the patterns of human speech, but it’s rare for an animal to do it spontaneously.

The study is not the first time a whale has sounded human. Scientists who have studied sounds of white whales in the wild sometimes heard what sounded like shouting children. Caretakers at the Vancouver Aquarium in Canada previously said they heard one of the white whales say its name.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Comments (48)

oldsoldier10
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 9:01pm
Here is the clearest example of that whale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=RFZrzg62Zj0 says it all

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- 19RANDY59
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 1:03pm
  Of course they never stop talking, that’s their job. Don’t you realize these are Alpha personalities. It’s all about them. Every story they report on, happened in order to promote them. that whale is singing so that they will become more popular, in their opinion, and no, they will never admit this.
  
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Thomas
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 8:03pm
…hmmm, I wish the news team would shut up so I can here it. How unprofessional! I can’t believe they tell you to listen to the sounds of this whale but never shut their pie holes.

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- Upfront
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:28pm
  I had the same reaction.
  
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- Angry-Elf
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 7:18am
  me too…
  
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LeadNotFollow
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 4:17pm
.
God put certain animals here on this Earth just for our enjoyment, and to give us unconditional love.

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- Cesium
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:33pm
  Sharks
  
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- Juniemoon
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:55am
  Many Jewish people believe animals could talk, examples are the ass that spoke to Baalam and the serpent in the garden. I believe they will talk in heaven.
  
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Maxim Crux
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 4:09pm
The whale was the first intelligent being put in earth before humans according to Genesis.

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TedBohne
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 3:29pm
Hmmm, sound like every conservative talking head out there.

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- colt1860
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 5:34pm
  Hmmm, you sound like every close minded, brain dead, hard headed, stubborn, itolerant, hypocritical, hateful, bias liberal out there.
  
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- AC7880
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 8:57pm
  Hmmm, sounded like Monica Lewinsky on her knees servicing Slick Willie Clinton, or Little Prissy Matthews on his knees servicing Bi-sexual Present-dent Bumbling Barry Oblamo.
  
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- ChestyPuller
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:19am
  Yes as they said the whale was smart,opposed to liberals = dumb
  
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ellietoo
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 2:50pm
Must be the whale decided to do a study of human speech and decided humans had nothing to say that he was interested in.

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TheVOR
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 2:28pm
WOODYEE, the kazoo comment is hilarious.

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TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 2:18pm
Beluga whales are the coolest creatures…watching them in real life is so incredibly humbling…if you have not seen them in aquarium, please do…

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- AKHDPETE
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 2:28pm
  if these two hosts would have shut up! It would have been a lot better to actually hear the beluga sing!
  
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tonypro
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 2:12pm
Complete fail for the spokes people!!!!!!!

Just like a dumpacrap, talk over everyone else so no-one can hear them.

They obviously got their training from tingles mathews.

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dbeesh
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 1:06pm
Reincarnation of Micheal Jackson…
Same skin color.

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- muffythetuffy
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 1:46pm
  IT SOUNDS REAL AND HAS AN IDENTITY
  
  Is the whales voice similar to people care or feed him? Is sounds like someone trying to speak through their nose. Have there been spectrum analysis studies done? Chimps can speak using sign language.
  
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- muffythetuffy
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 1:49pm
  Some one should install an under water TV set to see what happens. Will the whale watch it? Whales and dolphins have larger brains than humans. Could it be that these animals are as intelligent like humans?
  
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Eastinfection
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:28am
Fillet of Whale:

2 lb Beluga whale meat
1 g Water
2 tb Salt
1 tb Soda
3 tb Butter or margarine
1/2 ts Salt
1/4 ts Pepper
Slice the whale meat into 4 steaks.

Soak meat for 1 hour in a brine made from one gallon of cold water and 2 tablespoons salt.
Drain the meat & place in a pot
Sprinkle 1 tablespoon soda over it then cover it with fresh water.
Bring the water slowly to a boil and let the meat simmer for for 20 minutes, skimming the surface of the liquid as necessary. Remove the meat, spread it out and pat dry.
Melt butter in a heavy fry pan, sprinkle meat with salt and pepper then place it in the melted butter in the fry pan over lowest heat and let stand 1 hour, turning steaks over once.
Pour off the butter into a saucepan and use it for making the sauce.
Brown the meat on both sides in fry pan over high heat. Serve hot with mushroom sauce.

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Slipstick
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:26am
Sounds a bit like the Swedish Chef on the Muppet Show…

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spudwhite
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:10am
Sounds like one of the more intelligent Obama voters.

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- SITDOWNANDSHUTUP
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:18am
  that is hysterical…………I wonder if the whale received a new phone?
  
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- woodyee
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:28am
  At SitDown – it won’t get a “Bama-phone!”, but it’ll probably vote for Obammy – twice…
  
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vigibill
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:08am
He’s screaming, “Somebody help me! I’m being held against my will! Help me! Help me!”.

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jungle J
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:06am
And the caretakers and news people still send letters to santa.

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NOFX
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:02am
nuke the whales

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DadRocked
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:59am
Sounded like the current administration, from top – down, trying to cover up another issue.

Remember to get out and vote in two weeks. A solid defeat will limit any conflicts of what the Will of the People mandates and limit their objections.

Invite someone or take a friend, grandma, etc to the booths.
For those of you voting against America, remember that the election is Wednesday November 7th.

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OniKaze
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:59am
Proof that there are some animals that are smarter than your typical Demoncrat Voter…

These animals can speak properly…. Unlike people like the Obama-phone lady who NEVER finishes a complete word, or speaks in any form of “intelligent” manor… Animal was able to “speak” after a few years of exposure to English…. Why can’t many people in the inner city or DEEP south countryside do the same.??? If an animal can do it, why can’t they???

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- thegreatcarnac
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 1:38pm
  “Japanese whaling boats……japanese whaling boats…..SWIM”
  
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:56am
Incredible, and we are only now finding out?

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- DadRocked
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:01am
  I would only modify your comment by saying, “Incredible, and we are only now finding out that we’re funding this?”
  
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blackyb
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:52am
Sign it up for “America’s got Talent.” It did sound like someone blowing through a piece of paper over a comb. I like the whale. Wish I had one. I guess I will have to settle for the paper and the comb.

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BurntHills
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:51am
and no word how heartbreaking what Japan is still doing to them.

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woodyee
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:50am
Poor thing’s got a kazoo stuck in his air vent…

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sizzlinsexybeckster
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:45am
This very cute adorable beautiful smart whale died 5 years ago….. and we are just hearing about this now? I guess there is nothing going on in the world to talk about, eh?

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Master_and_Commander
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:42am
this must be what humans sound like to these creatures when we attempt to communicate… haha

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badswing
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 10:42am
it would have been nice if the anchors would have shut their mouths while we were trying to listen!

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- republitarian
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:37am
  The whale had more interesting things to say. What a couple of twits.
  
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- AReaganAirForceVet
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:00pm
  Amen, Exactly what I was going to say. Thanks for saying it first.
  
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