Ecobreves – COLOMBIA: The Whales Are Here!

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

BOGOTA, Aug 11 2003 (IPS) - Hundreds of whales began arriving in the warm waters along Colombia's Pacific coast in late July to mate and to give birth, a spectacle that attracts crowds of tourists every year. The giant sea mammals migrate to Colombian waters during the Southern Hemisphere winter, escaping the frigid waters of the south, remaining here until early October, when the begin their return trip, according to the Ministry of Environment.

Tourists and scientists track the whales' behavior, as they surface for air and breach, and even “sing”, whale songs that can last as long as 20 minutes.