Animals Quote by Charles Nicklin
““One question that especially intrigues me is exactly when humpbacks started coming to Hawaii and why. In artwork and oral histories of ancient Hawaiians there is no record of humpback whales being there, and there is no evidence that humpbacks were there in large numbers in the mid-1800's during the heyday of whaling. The whalers who provisioned in Hawaii in the winter couldn't have overlooked the numbers of whales that are in Hawaii now. We really don't know what happened, but everything points to a recent colonization of humpbacks. (p.162).””
About This Quote
Source Book: Marine Mammalogy, 2020
The quote highlights uncertainty about when humpback whales began regularly appearing in Hawaiian waters, suggesting a recent colonization despite lack of ancient records.
In simple terms: We don’t know when humpbacks arrived in Hawaii.
Key Takeaway
Investigate historical and ecological data.
Themes
history
marine biology
colonization
human impact
uncertainty
Mood
inquisitive
analytical
Type
scientific
exploratory
When to use this quote
- marine research
- conservation planning
- educational outreach
- policy development
Key Concepts
population dynamics
species migration
anthropogenic influence
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence could clarify the timeline of humpback arrival?
- How might human activity have affected their presence?
A Different Perspective
Ancient records may be incomplete, and recent sightings could be influenced by modern observation methods.
![“[Footnote:] Pliny the Elder described a Whale called "Balaena or Whirlpool, which is so long and broad as to take up more in length and breadth than two acres of ground." This brings up again the old question: Are the classics doomed? Our ancestors believed that four years of this sort of…” quote by Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c1/will-cuppy-7569_acres_footnote-pliny-the-elder-described-a-wha_84284.jpg)
