Cetaceans are mammals that are incredibly well adapted to the marine environment, and among them the beaked whales are the least known. The numerous mass beachings of beaked whales around the world, related to military maneuvers, were the origin of this study. Employing underwater microphones and depth and movement sensors, the team has been able to describe their submersion curves and behavior. The results they have obtained are fascinating. This team has discovered that beaked whales are able to dive to depths of more than a thousand meters, where they feed on squid and fish. The research is being applied to issues as diverse and important as the reduction of the risks of collision with ships, the improvement of behavioral guidelines for tourist pilot whale sightings, and the study of beaked whales’ sensitivity to acoustic pollution.

Originally released by Looking Glass International, 2014. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on November 13, 2017.

Deep-Water Giants (6:47); .