What marine mammal can imitate the voices of humans?

October 30, 2012 By News Staff

Answer: a beluga whale

Researchers have reported in a recent issue of Current Biology that beluga whales can imitate the voices of humans, as shown by acoustic analysis.

As reported by phys.org, the human-like sounds came from a white whale by the name of NOC that had lived among dolphins and other white whales, and had often been in the presence of humans. After 30 years at the National Marine Mammal Foundation, NOC passed away five years ago, but the sound of his voice can still be heard:

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

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