Question

In the whale rescue, what noise unintentionally lured the whales from one hole to the next?

(1 point)
Responses

The recordings of whale mating calls.
The recordings of whale mating calls.

The noise from the special water pumps.
The noise from the special water pumps.

The sounds of people cutting the ice.
The sounds of people cutting the ice.

The engine of the Soviet ice-breaker.

How did you keep the whales and people safe?

It did help that the whales were located a good way from Barrow and the only route there was by a snow machine or on one of the helicopters dedicated to the rescue effort. A rotating group of TV reporters and cameramen were flown out to the whales daily. Access was limited for safety reasons and to minimize disturbance to the whales and those involved directly with the rescue effort. Most of the people who live in Barrow know the conditions out on the ice better than anyone. We followed their advice and they helped us make decisions along the way. If they said it was time to stop because it was too dangerous, we listened. The Inupiat people3 who lived in and around Barrow did most of the hole-cutting, and their knowledge and guidance helped the operation stay safe and on track.


Did things get complicated with so many people wanted to help with the rescue?

There were so many groups — Inupiat hunters, biologists, oil companies, United States and Soviet Union government agencies, the military, non-profit organizations, and the press — on the scene and everyone wanted to play a part. There was a balancing act to include all of those who wanted to help with those that could really provide useful assistance. Aside from freeing the whales, it was the involvement of so many groups that actually became the operation’s biggest success story. Groups that were usually on opposite sides of major issues all came together to free the whales from the ice. This was during the height of the Cold War. Cooperation between the United States and Soviet Union on any issue was basically unheard of, especially on something so publicized.

How did you rescue the whales?

We had a lot of support. One company sent chain saws to help cut holes in the ice. Another sent portable generators to provide light and power. We cut a series of holes in the ice, hoping that whales would swim from one hole to the next but it was so cold that they kept freezing over. The owners of a Minnesota company that specialized in underwater pumps saw the TV news reports and sent us special pumps made to circulate4 water and prevent freezing. All along, we had planned to use whale mating sounds to lure the whales from hole to hole. Quite by accident we discovered that the noise generated by the pumps attracted the whales. The pumps allowed us to coax the whales to a new breathing hole ahead. It really helped us move them along. While we were carefully moving the whales, a Soviet ice-breaker arrived. It broke through a 15-foot area at the head of the bay area and cleared a channel for a few miles. We didn’t want the ice-breaker getting too close to the whales, so [we] continued cutting holes to meet the channel so the whales could swim freely.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
to move from one region or habitat to another based on the seasons
a group of people native to northwestern Alaska
Circulate (verb) to cause to move continuously

Answer 1

Answer: The noise from the special water pumps.

How they kept whales and people safe:
- Access was limited (only reachable by snowmachine or rescue helicopters) and a rotating small group of reporters/cameramen was flown out to minimize crowding.
- Safety and disturbance were minimized by restricting who could get near the whales.
- Local Inupiat residents, who knew the ice conditions best, did most of the hole‑cutting and guided decisions; rescuers listened to their advice (e.g., to stop when it was too dangerous).
- Coordinated use of specialized equipment (pumps to keep holes open, chainsaws, generators) and careful spacing (not letting the ice‑breaker get too close) kept people and whales safer.