Ancient Harpoon Discovery Reveals Bowhead Whale Longevity
- In 2007, Inuit whalers in Alaska found an interesting discovery in a whale's body.
- Bowhead whales, known scientifically as Balaena mysticetus, faced severe decline due to commercial whaling that reduced their numbers to fewer than 3,000.
- Indigenous Peoples in Alaska can still conduct subsistence hunts for bowhead whales, which have been a crucial food source for thousands of years.
In 2007, Inuit whalers in Alaska found an interesting discovery in a whale’s body. They uncovered old fragments of a weapon embedded in the whale’s flesh. Scientists traced this harpoon to around the 1900s. They estimated that the whale was about 115 years old, or even older.
Bowhead whales, known scientifically as Balaena mysticetus, faced severe decline due to commercial whaling that reduced their numbers to fewer than 3,000. The whaling industry ended in 1921, allowing the population to grow to between 10,000 and 23,000 individuals.
Indigenous Peoples in Alaska can still conduct subsistence hunts for bowhead whales, which have been a crucial food source for thousands of years. During one such hunt, a unique finding was made. A biologist noticed the weapon fragments while the whale was being processed and sent them to historian John Bockstoce at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
The harpoon was an exploding lance, common in New Bedford during the late 1800s when it was the leading whaling center. Bockstoce and his team dated the harpoon’s use between 1885 and 1895, confirming the whale’s age at around 115 years.
This discovery adds to the evidence that bowhead whales are among the largest and longest-living mammals. They can live for over 200 years, making them the longest-living mammals on Earth.
How Do You Age a Whale?
One way to determine a whale’s age is by examining its eyes. The eye lens contains aspartate, which has left- and right-handed forms. The balance of these forms changes over time. A baby bowhead whale has all left-handed aspartate. As it ages, the ratio shifts toward a balance of left and right forms.
By studying the ratio of these aspartate forms in the lens, scientists can estimate the whale’s age. Dr. Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston describes this method in her book, The Future Loves You: How And Why We Should Abolish Death.
Additionally, the bowhead whale has a unique trait linked to its long lifespan. They have small testicles, which allows their cells to heal before replicating. However, this trait may negatively affect their fertility.