Oct 6, 2008 9:43 pm US/Eastern
Rare Blue Whale Sighting Off Mass. Coast
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
When whale researchers Jennifer Tackaberry and Laura Ganley boarded their boat in Gloucester Sunday for one of their weekly research trips, they didn't know it would turn into the chance of a lifetime.
They were 15 miles off the coast of Gloucester, when they saw something unusual in the water. "It turned out to be a blue whale," said Tackaberry, "which is pretty amazing."
Amazing because scientists believe there are fewer than 10,000 of the endangered creatures worldwide, and only hundreds, at the most 1,000 in the North Atlantic.
"To be able to see one of only maybe thousands is definitely something that is great to see out here." said Ganley. "It's an incredible find."
The blue whale is the biggest mammal on earth. The largest ever accurately measured was 102 feet.
Tackaberry and Ganley work for
The Whale Center of New England in Gloucester. They had been observing a number of feeding humpback whales on Sunday, before spotting the blue whale. They think it may have come that close to shore after discovering a large supply of food.
One scientist on board the boat hadn't seen a blue whale in 20 years, another had never seen one. So Tackaberry and Ganley, both young scientists, feel grateful to have seen this wonder of nature with their own eyes.
"Just something that is absolutely amazing to see...it was just a lucky find for us." said Ganley.
The researchers took dozens of pictures they will send to a Canadian scientist who has been documenting North Atlantic whales. They'll see if this one matches any known blue whales, or if it's a new addition to the catalog.
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