A second look at the vast world of whales may be warranted after a disconcerting event involving a beluga whale that was seen mimicking human speech. Indeed, this is a surprising aspect of their behavior that has left observers aghast.
Beluga Breaks Boundaries with Human-Like Speech
While the concept of conversing freely with animals remains firmly in fantasy territory, there are certain species that are gifted in mimicking human sounds, projecting uncanny renditions that defeat belief. Case in point: parrots, with their aptitude for mimicking human phrases and sentences in vivid clarity.
However, imagine the surprise of hearing a beluga whale underwater, their sounds creating an eerie resemblance to human conversation. No other creature has ever spontaneously created such human-like sounds, except for a nine-year-old beluga named NOC. He produced distinctly low pitched, short and rapid sounds.
The unique event unfolded when a diver at California’s National Marine Mammal Foundation surfaced, disturbed, asking, “Who told me to get out?”. This prompted the realization of a remarkable occurrence taking place.
Whales, often referred to as “canaries of the sea” due to their high-pitched cries, have been the center of speculative chatter when it comes to imitating human conversation. However, prior to this, recorded evidence was conspicuously absent.
Once NOC was confirmed as the originator of these strange sounds, researchers promptly initiated audio recording, solidifying this astounding revelation.
Fast-forward to the present, a video dating back to 2012 featuring NOC has reemerged online. Rather than inciting laughter, the beluga’s unique attempts at speech are unsettling, inspiring speculation about the unknown capabilities of these oceanic behemoths.
The video depicts ABC news reporters describing the beluga as cute and amiable; however, online viewers have expressed starkly different reactions.
Humorously, one YouTube user commented, “pulls up the terrifying beluga whale picture basically saying ‘I will consume your soul.’” Another viewer contrasted the reporter’s cheery assertion —”He looks kinda friendly”—with the unnerving image. According to another viewer, “The thumbnail literally made my SOUL jump out of its body for a second.” The situation was amusing for some, with comments like “I laughed so hard when she said ‘he looks kinda friendly’ right as that terrifying picture came up.”
A user attempted to rationalize the talkative beluga’s eerily human chatter: “It makes sense if you think about how the beluga is only mimicking what he can hear.”
Orca Whales: Another Contender in Human Speech Imitation
It’s likely that the beluga only hears parts of human conversation, specifically when people are underwater nearby using scuba equipment, which can distort the heard speech. The commenter elaborated — “If you’ve ever tried talking while swimming, you’ll know it sounds just like that”.
Belugas aren’t the only ones exhibiting this behavior. Early this year, a recorded clip from 2018 circulated, revealing an orca mimicking human speech in a spine-chillingly similar fashion. This recording was part of a study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences. Researchers from Germany, Spain, the UK, and Chile confirmed that orcas can also replicate human speech.
Josep Call, a professor at the University of St. Andrews and co-author of the study, interpreted the findings: “It tells us that they are flexible vocal learners, and their adaptability isn’t confined to vocal domain alone but also their motor abilities.” He continued, “They can also emulate body movements — something we already knew — but now we know they also copy sounds, including ones not in their natural repertoire.”
This intriguing discovery serves as a lesson in marvel and appreciation for whales and the larger animal kingdom. It underscores the importance of safeguarding these remarkable creatures and their habitats. Feel free to share this article if you agree!
