Scientists stunned as grey whale sighted off Israel

[cory777]

Source: AFP

JERUSALEM (AFP) - – The appearance of a grey whale off the coast of Israel has stunned scientists, in what was thought to be the first time the giant mammal has been seen outside the Pacific in several hundred years.

The whale, which was first sighted off Herzliya in central Israel on Saturday, is believed to have travelled thousands of miles from the north Pacific after losing its way in search of food.

"It's an unbelievable event which has been described as one of the most important whale sightings ever," said Dr Aviad Scheinin, chairman of the Israel Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center which identified the creature.

A population of grey whales once inhabited the north Atlantic but became extinct in the 17th or 18th centuries and has not been seen there since.

Read more: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20100512/tts-environment-israel-species-animal-wh-c1b2fc3.html

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maybe the Israel/Palestine forum would be more appropriate for this story?