Episode 12: The Whale Whisperer-Dr. Rachel Cartwright

On deck the Cunard Queen Elizabeth with whale biologist Dr. Rachel Cartwright.

Whales are mysterious. Let’s start with that.

Despite years of pursuit and study by humans, the giants of the ocean still keep their secrets close. We know they’re talking, communicating almost constantly, but we don’t understand their language. We know they’re mammals whose ancestors once roamed the earth, but we aren’t sure why they returned to the sea. And until recently, we had no scientific evidence as to why they hurtle themselves out of the water with regularity in spectacular fashion, splashing back down into the ocean.

Humpback calf near Juneau, Alaska. (graydio1)

Dr. Rachel Cartwright is in the forefront of the scientific world’s attempt to solve some of these mysteries. Her research on why whales breach has changed the way we view this amazing behaviour. She spends her summers in Alaska studying and teaching and her winters in Maui where she is a whale researcher at the Keiki Kohola Project, a Maui-based nonprofit that protects humpback whale mothers and calves.

I first met Rachel onboard the Cunard Queen Elizabeth, where she is a naturalist-in-residence. I was giving lectures on history and natural sciences for Canadian Geographic as a Royal Canadian Geographical Society fellow, while she was telling stories about the work she does with whales along the “whale super-highway” between Hawaii and the Alaska panhandle. We spotted several dozen whales during our time on board, at times quite close to the ship; a rare treat for me and my 600mm lens.

Humpback whale near Baranof Island, Alaska. (graydio1)

In our time between lectures, we decided to go for a walk on deck. This is part one of a two part conversation, with our second chat scheduled for this winter in Maui. We talk about her research, how she got started, and a bit about the secret sex lives of whales. (A whale of a tale…sorry).

Whale shower (note the barnacles). Near Juneau, Alaska. (graydio1)

Click below to join us for a walk on deck the Cunard Queen Elizabeth.