Bowhead Whales: The 200-Year Lives of Arctic Giants (Classic)

Imagine living for more than 200 years in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Meet the bowhead whale, the longest-lived mammal known to science and an extraordinary survivor of the Arctic. Chris and Angie discover what makes bowheads so special, from enormous, ice-breaking skulls and blubber nearly half a metre thick to the longest baleen plates of any whale. These Arctic giants sustain their massive bodies largely on tiny crustaceans, including copepods and krill. Their conservation story combines recovery with continuing concern. Commercial whaling devastated bowhead populations, but protection has allowed some to rebound. Today, fishing-gear entanglement, ship strikes, underwater noise and a rapidly changing Arctic present ongoing challenges for these remarkable whales. == Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices