Roger Payne, the scientist who discovered that whales sing, dies at 88

2023-06-16 09:51:23

He leaves an indelible legacy in the field of whale conservation thanks to his research into the musical complexity of these majestic animals.

Roger Payn, biologist and environmentalist, listening to a recording of humpback whales during his research roger payne foundation

Roger Payne, biologist and environmentalist, died this Saturday at the age of 88 at his home in Vermont. This scientist leaves an indelible legacy in the field of whale conservation.

He was born in 1935 in New York (USA) and specialized in humpback whale research being a pioneer in the field of bioacoustics, the study of sounds produced by animals.

His research in bioacoustics dates back to 1967 when he began recording the songs of humpback whales in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. These recordings showed a complex musical structure in which the whales repeated rhythmic patterns. It was later shown that before the existence of propeller-driven ships, the loud, low-frequency sounds of whales could be heard throughout the ocean.

Roger Payne received numerous awards for his work in whale conservation, including the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society of the United States and the Albert Schweitzer Award for Humanitarianism. His contribution to the field of marine biology and whale conservation was highly relevant and helped raise awareness of the importance of protecting these animals.

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