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Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 29 Sep 1998 08:20:07 GMT
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What a pity about this display.  Some years ago I saw a documentary on (I think)
pilot whales.  The paritcular pod which the scientists were following exhibited
the following behaviours, which were really interesting to me:

The young whales were put into creche groups and babysat while their mothers
went off to catch fish.  Adolescent male whales took their turns at this
childcare (!!!).  One of the whales, the grandmother, was observed regularly
suckling her grand daughter while her daughter went for food.  The young whales
were suckled for something like several years.

I saw this a while ago and I think it got recorded over on the video, but it is
nice to know that these behaviours are being carefully observed (to put our
mammalian experiences into some kind of perspective) and that they were included
in a very positive way in this programme.

(Although, wouldn't you know, of the team of scientists, the one reporting on
these behaviours was the woman.  Although, then again, maybe this is a case of
life informing research.)

Maybe the Aquarium would be receptive to having information which is
species-appropriate for this display.

Magda Sachs
The Breastfeeding Network UK
(Formerly of Berekely, California, and a Monterey Bay Aquarium visitor)

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