Whales that time forgot: Arctic giants born before Moby-Dick
In the distant and icy waters of the Arctic swim titans that have outlived eras, wars, and discoveries. Some of them were already fully grown when Herman Melville was writing his great ode to obsession and tragedy — the novel Moby-Dick. And yes, a few of them still carry 19th-century harpoons in their bodies, like eerie but priceless time capsules.
These whales are not a myth. They are bowhead whales, rightfully considered the longest-living mammals on Earth. Some were born long before electricity, telephones, or automobiles existed. While humanity was recording history on paper, they were living it in the depths of the ocean.
Science, Inuit traditions, and a bit of luck helped reveal the mystery of these marine giants’ age. In the late 20th century, researchers, working with Inuit hunters, began studying the bodies of harvested whales. In some, they found harpoon heads made in the 1800s. But an even more precise method was analyzing the lenses of the eyes: by studying amino acids, scientists discovered that some individuals were born before 1850.
When Moby-Dick first appeared in 1851, whaling was at its peak. Up to 50,000 whales were killed each year for blubber, meat, baleen, and — again — blubber, which was used for fuel and in the production of soap and cosmetics. It was the golden age of whaling madness. Only in the 20th century did humanity begin to wake up — in 1946, the International Whaling Commission was established, and by 1986, commercial whaling was officially banned.
Nevertheless, the damage had already been done. The populations of many species had fallen by 90% or more. Bowhead whales were pushed to the brink of extinction. But a miracle occurred — since the mid-1980s, their population has started to recover, growing by about 20%. Bowhead whales can live for more than 200 years. Their secret lies in unique genes capable of efficiently repairing damaged DNA. This makes them potentially immortal — at least in terms of aging.
When Moby-Dick first appeared in 1851, whaling was at its peak. Up to 50,000 whales were killed each year for blubber, meat, baleen, and — again — blubber, which was used for fuel and in the production of soap and cosmetics. It was the golden age of whaling madness. Only in the 20th century did humanity begin to wake up — in 1946, the International Whaling Commission was established, and by 1986, commercial whaling was officially banned.
Nevertheless, the damage had already been done. The populations of many species had fallen by 90% or more. Bowhead whales were pushed to the brink of extinction. But a miracle occurred — since the mid-1980s, their population has started to recover, growing by about 20%. It might seem that history is finally favoring the whales. No more harpoons — no more problems? Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Today, whales face a different threat: industrialization. Oil drilling in the Arctic and offshore extraction in sensitive areas such as the Great Australian Bight are endangering them once again. Even without accidents, the drilling process itself disrupts migration routes, destroys underwater ecosystems, and creates intense sound pollution — the equivalent of an explosion in the ears for whales. High-frequency seismic testing can cause permanent hearing damage to animals that depend on echolocation for navigation and communication.
Whales are not just “giants of the sea.” They are key players in the biosphere. By absorbing carbon and spreading nutrients, they help sustain ocean health. Slowly but steadily, they are reclaiming their place in the oceans, and every long-lived whale — like a 200-year-old bowhead — is living proof of nature’s resilience. If we want to see another whale celebrate its 211th birthday, we must protect its home — the cold, dark, yet vibrant waters of the world’s oceans.
These whales are not just survivors. They are living volumes of an ancient, vulnerable, and astonishing history. And it is our responsibility to keep writing that story — this time, without blood on its pages.