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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Whales Return to Moby Dick's Old Haunts

New sightings of hunt-decimated populations off Chile raise hopes

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(Newser) – Hosts of whale sightings are being reported off southern Chile, raising conservationists' hopes for a resurgence of the populations—including the real-life inspiration for Moby Dick—that flourished in the area before they were hunted nearly to extinction. Experts warn the apparent boom could be the result of more pairs of eyes looking for the animals, the Los Angeles Times reports. 

Herman Melville's inspiration, named Mocha Dick, was a white bull sperm whale famous for brushes with whalers. Currently, two major seasonal populations have been reported off Chile: one of humpbacks and one of blue whales. "It could be we're just seeing more whales now because of increased interest and tourism," warns the head of Chile's Cetacean Conservation Center.

The flukes of a gray whale as it dives off the Southern California coast near the Palos Verdes Peninsula is seen Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008.
The flukes of a gray whale as it dives off the Southern California coast near the Palos Verdes Peninsula is seen Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
American actor Gregory Peck plays Captain Ahab in John Huston's film
American actor Gregory Peck plays Captain Ahab in John Huston's film "Moby Dick" adapted from the novel by Hermann Melville.   (Magnum Photos)
A humpback whale jumps out of the waters off Hawaii in this photo.
A humpback whale jumps out of the waters off Hawaii in this photo.   (AP Photo/NOAA Fisheries)
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