Elusive Narwhal caught on film

**Astor** · 02-10-2009, 06:01 PM

Here.

I think it's fascinating, personally. We know so little about sea-life as it is, especially this species, and this footage gives us a brief glimpse of not just one, but a whole group of Narwhal.

Also, looking at the footage, and their impressive horn, I can see how early Norse explorers might have considered them to be 'Sea-Monsters'.

SW01 · 02-10-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Anderson, BBC

"These animals are just so completely unreal - they are like something from mythology"

That seems a fair assessment. They are very impressive creatures, as you say sure 'sea-monster' material!

**Astor** · 02-10-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SW01

That seems a fair assessment. They are very impressive creatures, as you say sure 'sea-monster' material!

I certainly thought so when I first heard of them - there's a 1.5-2m Narwhal tusk at Warwick Castle (picture here, not mine), in one of the Great Halls - I couldn't believe that it was from a sea creature!

That such a creature can be so close to us, yet we still know almost nothing about them, is just amazing. I hope this will spark further research into the species, and and lead to conservation efforts if it is proved that Global Warming will have a detrimental effect on them.

SW01 · 02-10-2009, 06:24 PM

The first thing I thought of when watching the clip was the apparent danger - it is amazing that the Narwhal are able to swim in such close formation, seemingly without incident...I imagine a 7ft tusk could do massive damage in the event of an unfortunate collission.

And I agree with you, if global warming is shown to be having an effect on them, such a curious creature ought be protected - as should all, really, but this species is fascinating.

PastramiX · 02-10-2009, 06:46 PM

Ah, narwhals. I would love to buy a yacht, go out to the Arctic Circle, and start up a whaling operation. It'd be a fair fight: I have a high-powered deck-mounted harpoon cannon, they have long, spear-like tusks.

Q · 02-10-2009, 06:56 PM

Your yacht would get stoved like the Essex.

That was one righteously pissed off whale, and a strong indicator that whales may be capable of reason.

PastramiX · 02-10-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qliveur

Your yacht would get stoved like the Essex.

Yes, but that was an old wooden-hull craft. I can buy a steel-hulled Soviet sub on the black market for several thousand dollars. Outfit the machine gun deck with a harpoon cannon, and you have a modern day whaleship.

Quote:

That was one righteously pissed off whale, and a strong indicator that whales are capable of reason.

But these are smaller than whales... but with tusks. It's a fair fight.

Q · 02-10-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PastramiX

I can buy a steel-hulled Soviet sub on the black market for several thousand dollars. Outfit the machine gun deck with a harpoon cannon, and you have a modern day whaleship.

I thought that the drug cartels had already bought all of them to use for smuggling, along with a few leftover thermonuclear torpedoes to use against the DEA and the Coast Guard.

Rev7 · 02-11-2009, 02:22 AM

It definately looks unreal...really unreal to me....but idk.....

Interesting animal....we truly do not know everything

CommanderQ · 02-11-2009, 11:06 AM

Wow. Those creatures are absolutley amazing! Very much Sea-Monster material! Excellent thread, Astor!

@Rev: Agreed, these Narwhals looked very unreal...in an AWESOME way!

PastramiX · 02-11-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qliveur

I thought that the drug cartels had already bought all of them to use for smuggling, along with a few leftover thermonuclear torpedoes to use against the DEA and the Coast Guard.

Pshaw, there's a guy named dimitri5162 on eBay that's selling one for $100. They're practically liquidating their stock to get quick cash.

Q · 02-11-2009, 04:42 PM

Great! I can finally buy that MiG-29 I always wanted.