Living Whale Discovered Carrying a 19th Century Harpoon Embedded in Its Body
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A bowhead whale was discovered carrying a 19th century harpoon still embedded in its body, proving it had survived for more than a century after being struck.
The whale was found off the coast of Alaska in 2007 by Inuit whalers who noticed the unusual metal lodged in its neck. The fragment was later identified as part of a bomb lance manufactured in New England around 1880, a weapon commonly used by whalers at the time.
According to IFLScience, the whale was estimated to be about 130 years old when it was caught. Bowhead whales are known for their extraordinary lifespans, often exceeding 200 years, and this discovery provided rare physical evidence of their resilience.
The harpoon likely exploded upon impact, but because it struck a non lethal spot, the whale managed to survive and continue living for more than a century.
Brainy Monkey | December 30, 2025
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