The Lost Cultures of Whales | Shane Gero | TEDxOttawa
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- Опубликовано: 1 июн 2024
- What is lost when we lose a whale culture? Shane Gero shares stories from thousands of hours spent in the company of sperm whales. In this hauntingly powerful talk, he details how similar their lives are to our own and how their cultures define their identity, just as ours do. Shane chronicles how their families and cultures are at risk, how our lives impact theirs, along with why preserving cultural diversity is important in our societies and the ecosystem.
Shane Gero is an assistant professor in the Marine Bioacoustics Lab at Aarhus University and the founder of The Dominica Sperm Whale Project. The DSWP has been tracking over 20 families of sperm whales in the Caribbean Sea since 2005.
Shane’s research is motivated by a desire to understand animal societies, how and why they form, and, by necessity, what happens when they fall apart. Shane is passionate about communicating his science and the whales’ stories to a wide audience. He has given dozens of public talks including those at The Canadian National Museum of Nature in Ottawa, the New England Aquarium in Boston, and the Interacting Minds Center in Denmark. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Motherboard Magazine, and all over Wikipedia; and his research has been featured in numerous magazines including National Geographic, WIRED, National Wildlife, New Scientist; on various radio shows and podcasts, and on TV in The Nature of Things and in two BBC miniseries including Blue Planet II.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx My research focuses on the acoustic complexity and social behavior of cetaceans. For over a decade, I have been working on research projects all over the world on various species in tropical, temperate and arctic areas.
The experiences gained through my academic trajectory; from graduate work at Dalhousie University, to my fellowships at the Scottish Oceans Institute and Aarhus University; have granted me the analytical skills and strong publication drive learned from a leaders in the field, but also the independence to direct research, supervise graduate students, and coordinate my own field study.
The Dominica Sperm Whale Project has been tracking over 20 families of sperm whales in the Caribbean Sea since 2005. Through 1000s of hours of fieldwork, I have followed calves from birth through weaning and described the social dynamics among family members, as well as between the families in the Caribbean. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
I was trained in linguistics, a long time ago. In a course on pragmatics, my professor argued that animals don't have language since from what she has seen so far, no animal (save for humans) has the pre-requisite that satisfy language; sounds with patterns, syntactical structure and attached meaning. I was one of her students that doubted her case because some of us had known how dolphins use clicks and high frequency sounds to communicate and convey information.
When I watched videos from James Nestor, and this one, I'm more convinced on how arrogant we humans have been, to assume that we are the only one with claims to language, empathy and sentience. It has been 4 years since I sat in that class and I did not change my mind then, and have not change my mind since.
I'll definitely send this video, along with other videos about whale vocalization to my professor as well. It'll be interesting to have her reaction.
Dude this hurts me knowing that their society is so much more complex than we thought
why does it hurt you
@@thejokesonlife3745 bc we murderk1lled such an astronomical amount of them especially in 1800s and early 1900s, which means a lot of generational information which may have been past down was lost and set back.. blue whales went from ~300,000 to like 5000 population due to whaling. only recently have improved, but still at a much much smaller and slower rate. this is most often the case, esp with long lived ones, like blue whales which can live as long as humans, and only raise 1 calf at a time, which means a really tragic cutting of their lineage and collective knowledge occurred which cant ever be fully replaced like it never happened.
The fact that we look to the nightsky for intelligent life is is so frustrating, when we have these incredibly intelligent mammals with large brains and language, whom we're killing!
Absolutely. Such a sad truth.
Cetaceans are our marine equivalents. This should be presented at the U.N.
Yael Resner Why u guys never mention other countries like Norway or iceland? They do hunt whales, why? maybe cuz they are WHITE.
@@user-hc4xg3fm5m chill with that race b.s.
Yeah, but we’re not there equivalent. They’re likely more intelligent then we are. We won the lottery, and got brains and live on land. So we get technology, but that doesn’t make us superior. They are likely the most intelligent species on Earth, and they may be the wisest.
Iceland should be made to stop.
@@user-hc4xg3fm5m what
I struggle daily w my shame and disgust regarding our self-proclaimed “civilization” and its behaviors, and my sadnesses & declining hope. Videos like this, and those who make them and watch them help 💚
Incredibly important talk. Since I was a child I have felt this deep connection with the ocean. Just like so many of us have. The work that people like Shane Gero does is terribly important. It feels frustrating not being able to do far more. All of us who are divers. There must be something we can do. I know that many of us who feel we belong to the sea, would give our lives gladly. If we could help our fellow beings of the blue world. We have to get more radical, more impeccable, if we want the ocean and its incredible habitants to live.
I’m right there with you.
It was our first home. We are, what, 73%? (salt) water?
Oh how heartbreaking. I was already so heartbroken for whales...but this really gets me.
He is the best embassador of our fellow animals, here the whales, i can think of.
This makes "Old Man and the Sea" take on new meaning for me.
Old man is the sea.
Bless all sentient life with respect
Only 22k views. That´s sad.
Cheer up dummy! You get sad too easy.
:( same here.
Billions of people there,but only ২২k got the message
My eyes have been opened to a new turn of life. Thank you.
EVERY CALF MUST SURVIVE .... Japan disappoints me so much.....MONEY AND GREED
No, I don't think it is only about money and greed. It's actually worse than that. In Japan whaling is an old tradition so people around the industry will protect not only their jobs, but also will stand up for a fight on patriotic terms and do everything to void supporting claims of whale protection. This fight is nearly so impossible like stopping a rainfall. I think Japan is a beautiful country with so much wonders and talented people and this leaves such a stain on that awesome image. I wish they could compromise a little more.
It is more that the question "are whales intelligent enough to be truly sapient?" They are sentient... just like dogs, cats, and baboons are... But are they sapient? Should any species other than Human Sapient Sapient have rights?
As it is, no other species have rights. They don´t even have rights over what they create.. art or tools...
Humans kill and eat most other species. If other species kill and eat a human, other humans will hunt that individual animal and kill it.
Humans have decided to work at keeping some animal species alive. It has not been decided (proved) that these species are in danger of dying out. It that is the case... then all killing (and eating) should (would?) desist and people would work to keep those whales alive. Change in shipping routes would be part of that effort. It just has to been proven that the species are dying out.
@@Coyot0xx0 I could not say it better. They are a spectacular civilization, but the whaling stuff is unforgettable. I still remember the retired Fukushima engineers coming back to the powerplant and sending the young ones home to protect them from cancer. They really are a special people. Come on Japanese, stop killing whales!
Cr55zy Why u guys never mention other countries like iceland or norway. They do hunt whales, why? I guess cuz they are WHITE
@@user-hc4xg3fm5m No, I have more admiration for the Japanese people than for Icelanders and Norwegians. However, the Japanese have more equipment and kill more whales than Norway and Iceland.
You're still right on that we should be more vocal about Norway and Iceland, who should have stopped loooooooonng ago.
Just because we can't understand them doesn't mean they are not intelligent. Alot smarter than humans.
How important to know this, care for each other will make this planet a better place!
This is extremely interesting and seems kind of monumental and important to the research of non-human intelligent, so I find it strange that this is the first time I've ever heard of this
This doesn’t“sell soap”.
It’s easier to follow the adventures of the kardasians. No mental effort there. 🤨
So well said Shane! My heart is so broken when I think about whales, because I was born in a southern right whale sanctuary. Our ignorance is so great, we are so disconnected to everything that lives... People pay to see dinosaur skeletons at museus. Whales are still alive and people ar so indifferent to them. Why Japan is free to kill? Why people don't change for a greater good? Thank you for speaking for them!!! Keep speaking...
Beautifully said
This makes me weep with shame. I can't help wondering if we face only two futures - one on a dusty, polluted planet inhabited only by us and the few species we make use of, and one where we're just gone. The third option, the one where we manage to live in some kind of harmony with the rest of our world, seems less likely - partly because that's an ability we need to learn from other species. If we can't learn that, I hope the earth dumps us before we take everything else with us.
I fear that covid is a warning.
@Disc Golf interesting. I don't think I've read that part of Genesis, so I will. Thanks!
Thank you!
Humans have all this land yet we can’t help but to ruin the oceans and these incredible creatures lives and keeps getting worse 🥺
Excellent work Gero
This is so interesting. Simply because them like most ocean animals haven't been discovered yet and underwater is more diverse then on land
I cried at 4:45 good on you mate!
THAT IS SO INTERESTING.
Thank you Shane☺️ very well spoken❤️🙏🐋🐳🐬
If you are studying whale languages, why cannot we develop a “sona” capable of warning whales off the perimeters of whaling vessels? Could be worth a shot. Maybe do a playback of recordings of dying whales?
This is actually a genius idea
Smart
Thx, sir.
share this vid bitches. it deserves to be seen.
Deep...In more ways than one.
how can we as individuals help to protect those magnificent creatures? do you guys know any volunteering action we can take, or any organization which we can donate? thank you :)
You could share this video, for one thing.
And you could start, NOW, to shrink your global footprint: fewer goods that come from container shops across our oceans.
THAT will be quite a big job to start.
And spread the word. 😉
There's so few we know, but meantime so much we just have to see to know about.
This is truly tragic but he definitely should have left out the part where he said that the worst thing we ever did to the citizens of the ocean is ignore them. I get his point but I mean ... it's definitely worse to personally murder one with a spear like a goddamn caveman.
Thought the same thing.
Its good speech ,thank you. it's very sad but how we can help this animals?
Advice to all humans:
Just interfere in their way of life
And clean up the mess u make.
U can help them by following only these 2 steps
Wish I could donate all my wealth for Peachy.
AMEN
Not even a thousand people have seen this video in 2 years. Wake up
Share it. 😉
Military morse code intercept operators could be a great asset in the study of cetacean clicks.
Morse code is an alphabet not really a code. It's not a different language, It's different letters
Japan, Iceland and Russia must not be allowed to kill these amazing, sentient, and intelligent creatures. We must act now. Write your senators and congress people to put pressure on the the US government to force these countries to stop killing whales. Fund more research to understand these intelligent beings, clean up our oceans, and bring awareness of marine issues to the general public.
Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu!
Please don't loose them.
I scuba dive 3 days ago and it fuxked my head up and sinuses
Why did you leave the rope around her tail...?
They’re there to study her. So they may not interfere. Also they could get attacked because the mother may get aggroe seeing her child hurt. The rope may be sharp so upon contact it harms her.
this information is sad! when we wake up from this illusion of money and just profit?
Whale Investment Probably just before the last of us dies. So maybe soon.
When you realize that you’ve been trained to CONSUME products, and that you don’t have to to be happy.
But, it’s difficult to follow that path in modern society, because EVERYTHING around us tell us we need *new!* and *more!* to be happy, to be successful, to fit in.
You’ll “wake up” when YOU decide it’s that important to you. 🤨😉
if companies like monsanto stopped creating mega farms and transporting our food through plastic ( PLASTIC ruins sea life )and taught others how to farm and fish responsibly ( also some sort of biodegradable fish nets) instead this would solve the problem, but they don't wanna give up their lazy lifestyle. it's monsantos fault!!!!
HottTiger how narrow your vision and dull of your ears to broadcast such a simplistic analysis.
If food wasn't transported in plastic, it would spoil more quickly causing much greater problems on a global scale.
hence why we should be taught how to farm and fish instead of relying on mega farms... it's what we used to do.
Fthcf Vgtjbv mega farms dont feed more people they feed monsanto now known as bayer. Bayer is their new name. The pesticide connects with dna in your stomach and you start to actually produce the pesticide in your own stomach.
HottTiger Could you produce the study that says this :D. And there is no pesticide free faming. Organic farms use pesticides also.
And 8:52
That damn rope... why have they not cut it off her? Why do nothing? The whales do not have hands... Humans do. The Whales are not able to bite through the rope... they should be able too... if they dare to go near the whale and help her.
The rope probably already did damage before they could take it off her. He never said they didn't help. He said that when he saw them, her tail was already wrapped.
I can't wait for humans to talk with whales. I wonder what kind of RUclips channels they'd produce.
8 billion humans....
Do these whales mate with their family members?
Stop all world shipping so fish won’t get hit just fly every single thing we use into the country he knows what’s causing the whale numbers to decline it’s us we should listen to him he can’t be laying can he
A simple device with sound in front of ships to scare the whales out of it's path could solve the problem.
WHYTF has not a diver unroped Digit? No, really, you want me to do it?
:(
Why do they name them like pro gamers
Coexist? Sure we’ll go ahead, capture one and put it in a tank for Education purposes
What do we lose? A chance to research truly alien cultures, maybe that could be a matter of human survival or extinction.
We must do better by these whales; a LOT better; much less yield more care/ respect for the natural world
Thanos did nothing wrong
"The group of 7" has 8 whales in it x)
3
A little more science and a little less soap opera please.
They are so intelligent yet they get hit by the largest noisiest things in the ocean? In a zone they spend less than 10% of their lives in? Tragic yes. Complex? yes. Unique? yes. Supremely intelligent? I am doubting.
Thing is since they have no natural predators they are just curious about everything, and humans use that curiosity to kill them.
People have been hit and killed by every single vehicle on the planet... so by your logic, that makes us unintelligent? Think carefully about what you're saying and why. I think you're just uncomfortable with the idea that humans are not special. Get over yourself, ape.
I believe this is because it is not possible for them to always point their sonar at the surface of the ocean. Due to the enormous quantity of ships travelling the ocean, and the fact that they are always travelling close to the surface, I could imagine that it is very easy for a slipup to happen at some point. This would mean the whale may avoid thousands of ships in a given year successfully, but one mistake could result in a collison.
Have you ever walked into something that was in your path, just because you weren't looking? This seems to be what happens with whales. Don't forget, people are constantly getting hit by cars, because they failed to make the observation that a car was oncoming.
Way too dramatic and emotional
Jesus, this guys voice does a good job of unselling his point. What is this unpleasant tone of voice? It's like anti-charisma
Also, don't hunt whales or use them for SeaWorld
why should we care?
Watsqeburt cos your an animal too and dont have any rights over this animal. Your equal. So help stop them being killed.
Why shouldn't we?
If you do not understand why now, you never will. If you do not understand, you are missing something important.
Hi I’m a whale biologist and will approach your question with a technical answer. Whales make oxygen, and are what we call “environment engineers”.
Shane Gero and some other Ted talkers haven’t fully made the connection of whales to Earth’s oxygen. Less than half of photosynthesis isn’t via land plants, but by phytoplankton. These are tiny organisms that bloom at the ocean’s surface. They absorb nearly half of carbon produced naturally, and produce at least 50% of O2 breathed anywhere on Earth.
Whales fertilize phytoplankton when they defecate vast amounts of nutrients recycled into the seas. Like how we fertilize plants with animal waste. Whales’ nutrients even feed the very fish they eat, so when their populations fluctuate, so do the amount of fish in their designated feeding grounds. So no whales= less fish, and also less oxygen.
So part 2 is the carbon cycle.
Plants, and phytoplankton, take in a vast amount of carbon in the atmosphere. (If we cut down a forest, CO2 escapes into the atmosphere more immediately). Phytoplankton are eaten by tiny organisms called zooplankton. Which is then eaten by fish, which become food for whales. When whales die naturally they drift to the sea floor where the carbon is transferred to other creatures as food.
The carbon does eventually cycle naturally into the atmosphere, but a more gradual rate is natural, whereas burning fossil fuel is more immediate and unsustainable. Volcanoes and methane play into the climate naturally, but environments have yet to adapt to fossil fuels.
This was a lengthy answer, but whales essentially are key to our survival.
Why should we care about animals with minds just as or more complex than ours? IDK take a guess.