Voyage to the Whales

For three seasons, 1981-84, the 33-foot sloop Tulip sailed the Indian Ocean looking for whales. Sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, Whitehead and his rotating research crew studied the sperm whale in its natural habitat; heretofore, nearly all scientific studies of the sperm whale had been confined to carcasses provided by the whaling industry. Sailing from Crete through the Red Sea to Sri Lanka, Tulip headed for 19th-century whaling grounds. The team found sperm and pilot whales and, to their surprise, blue whales off the east coast of Sri Lanka. They swam with the sperm whales, photographed them, witnessed a birth. The book provides information on social behavior, mating, communication and migration--and a powerful argument against killing whales for ``research.'' Sailing buffs should be warned that the seafaring experience takes second place to the whales in this exciting story. Photos. Great Outdoors Book Club main selection; Dolphin Book Club selection. (Apr.)