Beluga whale 'makes human-like sounds'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20026938

Researchers in the US have been shocked to discover a beluga whale whose vocalisations were remarkably close to human speech.

While dolphins have been taught to mimic the pattern and durations of sounds in human speech, no animal has spontaneously tried such mimicry.

So Douglas Adams may have been onto something!!

Personally I think the whale sounds like a drunk child singing. I've not convinced this is mimicry, but I'm not a scientist.

I've always had a mild obsession with whales and dolphins so this story has warmed the cockles of my heart somewhat, though I remain quite skeptical.

Martyn1989

Theres a goat that can do that to

Chuck Stone

Deleted User wrote: »

Personally I think the whale sounds like a drunk child singing.

You'd know all about that Ted.

flutterflye

Sounds like when a child screams into one of these, or those other things - I don't know what they're called, but it's a toy you turn one way and then the other and it makes a boinga boinga noise. (I'm sure no one has a clue what I'm on about though!)

My name is URL

That's just some messer with a kazoo

Duckworth_Luas

So that explains that Mary Byrne one on X-Factor! :pac:

Super-Rush

Some chap was on here last week and said whales sounded like a Cork person falling down a well.

I think they sound like Chewbacca.

Rigol

aaaaaahhheeeeeeeyyyyaaaaa

eer-oooooooooww

Have any of ye heard Heathcote Williams poem Whale nation

mariaalice

mariaalice wrote: »

Have any of ye heard Heathcote Williams poem Whale nation

Have now. :pac:

squod

Shure it won't be long now until they ''evolve'' into a higher species and end up destroying the planet with nuclear weapons. I'm surprised Darwinists aren't off their heads with fear at the prospect.

We should kill them all now before they kill us.

squod

squod wrote: »

Shure it won't be long now until they ''evolve'' into a higher species and end up destroying the planet with nuclear weapons. I'm surprised Darwinists aren't off their heads with fear at the prospect.

We should kill them all now before they kill us.

Japan's way ahead of you. Always had a sneaky suspicion the Japanese had it right.

Whispered

Sounds a bit like one of my dogs! Very cute.

Rigol

Rigol wrote: »

aaaaaahhheeeeeeeyyyyaaaaa

eer-oooooooooww

New world anthem right there. I suggest we all spend some time memorising the beluga song, so that when the new world order begins, we can win some favour.

The Dagda

They're obviously trying to communicate with us humans, and they're saying "stop those russian **** from eating our f**king eggs!"

The King of Moo

Complete rip-off of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJstmxb8vyw

It sounds like me when I'm humming and gargling mouth wash, which then usually leads to a splutter and a lot of coughing.

NegativeCreep

The Dagda wrote: »

They're obviously trying to communicate with us humans, and they're saying "stop those russian **** from eating our f**king eggs!"

This post made me sad

hardCopy

He's trying to hum the Glenroe theme song

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

It sounds like me when I'm humming and gargling mouth wash, which then usually leads to a splutter and a lot of coughing.

He probably just had a lungfull of water so.

Pherekydes

The Dagda wrote: »

They're obviously trying to communicate with us humans, and they're saying "stop those russian **** from eating our f**king eggs!"

Beluga caviar? That would come from the Beluga Sturgeon, which is a fish.

The Dagda

Pherekydes wrote: »

Beluga caviar? That would come from the Beluga Sturgeon, which is a fish.

Oh sorry my mistake they're saying "stop the Russians from eating our namesake's eggs" i'm only new to learning whale

King Of Wishful Thinking

Reminds me, seen this earlier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VwM9vX_1a0

This is definitely what they're saying -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG6b3V2MNxQ

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

This is definitely what they're saying -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG6b3V2MNxQ

Omg, how original.

smash

The whale died 5 years ago, I don't know how it's just been discovered.

Maximus Alexander

The Dagda wrote: »

They're obviously trying to communicate with us humans, and they're saying "stop those russian **** from eating our f**king eggs!"

Whales are mammals. They don't lay eggs...

Carlos_Ray

Sounds like he's calling for a jihad.

Where To

Has the Irish wducation system deteriorated that badly that people now believe that whales lay eggs and eat fish?

*I know the beluga and killer whales eat fish but they are more dolphins than they are whales.

The Dagda

Where To wrote: »

Has the Irish wducation system deteriorated that badly that people now believe that whales lay eggs and eat fish?

*I know the beluga and killer whales eat fish but they are more dolphins than they are whales.

Your attempt to look clever failed. Badly.