All Nigeria Banks Set To Adhere To CBN BVN Deadline

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ruled out another extension for bank verification numbers (BVNs) which expires today. This means that those unable to register by the close of work on Friday would not be able to operate their accounts. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee had introduced the BVN on February 14, 2014. The initiative was to ensure unique identity for all bank customers and other users of financial services in the country by the use of the customers’ biometrics as means of identification. Meanwhile, data from the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS), showed that 20,833,635 bank customers had enrolled as at October 25, 2015. “Given the tradition of multiple accounts holding by an average Nigerian, which could be conservatively estimated at about two or three per an account holder, therefore, it could be safely assumed that over 40 million accounts might have been enrolled to BVN,” the central bank explained on Thursday. “It is evident that there has been less pressure in banking halls across the country which goes to buttress the fact that a greater percentage of account holders have been enrolled with the exception of those yet to link their accounts to their BVN,” the CBN added

PDP Senators Stage Walk-Out As Senate Cofirms Amaechi As Minister

Senators elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday staged a walk-out during plenary when it became obvious to them that the majority All Progressives Congress lawmakers were bent on having Rotimi Amaechi confirmed as Minister of the Federal Republic. It would be recalled that during the nominee’s screening, PDP caucus in the Upper Chambers had refused to ask the former Governor of Rivers State questions. In today’s plenary, the PDP lawmakers had argued that the court of law must first clear Amaechi of the weighty allegations brought against him by the Rivers State government before he is confirmed by the Senate and that the report of the Committee on Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges which did not favour Amaechi’s confirmation was in consonance with the rules of the Senate. They also argued that once there is a matter pending before a competent court of law, the Senate had no right to act on it. The APC lawmakers however rejected the report of the Committee in view of the fact that a case is pending against Amaechi at a competent court of law and as such, his confirmation must not be affected by an unproven allegation. A motion raised by the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume was however not seconded by the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, who insisted that the PDP lawmakers would first express themselves before seconding Ndume’s motion which clearly overruled the recommendations by the Committee. However, shortly before the confirmation, the PDP senators staged a walk-out led by their Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio. This happened after it became obvious that the Senate President was going to put a question on the recommendation of the committee.

Five Deputy Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service Handed Resignation

All five Deputy Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service have tendered their resignation today, October 29. The senior officers who jointly wrote a one-page letter said they were all unanimously and voluntarily resigning from the service of the Nigeria Customs Service having risen to their current position. According to Skytrend News, the officers were billed to proceed on annual leave but they opted to unanimously resign. see picture below

mancity Kelechi iheanaco handed call up

The young striker who has been in impressive form for the Citizens has now been given his maiden invitation to the Super Eagles Manchester City youngster Kelechi Iheanacho has been handed a up to the Nigeria side ahead of next month’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Swaziland. Coach Sunday Oliseh announced him as a late addition to the list of 23 players earlier released on Thursday afternoon. Iheanacho scored once and set up two assists on Wednesday as Manchester City demolished Crystal Palace 5-1 in the League Cup, but Oliseh, who has been recovering from an illness, only watched a rerun of the game on Thursday.

Oni first day in public after emarging as the new king

New miss world emarge: it African Turn Again

\\ Miss South Africa wins MissWorld 2014 pageantMiss South Africa Rolene Strauss has won the Miss World 2014 pageant. Miss Hungary and Miss US were 2nd and third runners up respectively

Fuel scarcity looms as oil workers threaten strike action from tomorrow

It appears another episode of petroleum scarcity is about to hit Nigerians as members of thePetroleum and Natural GasSenior Staff Association [PENGASSAN] andtheir counterparts in the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers [NUPENG], are set to begin a nationwide strike starting fromtomorrowMonday December 15th.According toPremium Times, the oil workers are heading for a strike action due to unresolved labor issues with the federal government, underfunding of the Petroleum Training Institute in Delta state as well as the yet to be passed Petroleum Industry Bill PIB."We (the oil workers) have sufficient reasons, based on information available to us, to believe that the law makers are not prepared to pass the law, even as the stateof the country’s petroleum industry has continued to deteriorate as a result of the absence of a regulatory and legal framework for the industry,” an official of the petroleum workers body said.The oil workers are said to also be aggrieved over the decision of the management of Total Nigeria to sack the PENGASSAN zonal Secretary in Port Harcourt as well as thelack of promotion for workers of the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF).

Nigeria gosple musician yinka Ayefele reflect back on the accident that put him on wheelchair...but say Thank you God

A lot of people don’t know the full story behind the Yinka Ayefele accident, but I’ll give you a little insight.17 years after a major accident that affected his two legs, gospel artist Yinka Ayefele continues to thank God for saving his life.This morning he took to his Facebook page to share pictures from the accident, as well as a picture of himself before the accident.He also shared pictures from a family thanksgiving gathering as well as a message with his fans.He wrote:REJOICE AND THANK GOD WITHME. the journey started exactly 17yrs ago, it was on Friday December 12th 1997. On my way to Abeokuta where I had that ghastly motor accident. it was indeed MY TURNING POINT. “ODUNMBAKU” I will for ever be grateful to you my Lord. Thank youall for your love, support and encouragement. When there is life there ishope.at the end all I can say is thank you Lord

The beauty of africa wedding.....it awesome to behold

There are numerous activities and event being held on Africa soil and one of such is the popular wedding ceremony which has always be one of numerous way of showcasing the dynamisms of Africa beauty both moderately and extremely wise be it positive or negative . In Africa wedding settings one common truth is that there is never a dull moment and the climax nomally happens at the reception after the marriage vows might have taking place earlier, either in the church, registry or mosque. research shows that there is always a large turnout of people during wedding reception as most people prefers to attend reception were merriment is at it peak, and also because of the glamour involved in terms of celebration and excitement thruly enjoyment as no limit as new dancing steps is being discovered such as the updown acrobash contoto as seen in the pics above....so goes the popular slogan...in Africa if you miss church, registry or mosque wedding you have not miss much but if you miss reception ceremony u never attend wedding at all....in Africa there is never a dull moment

Buhari wins APC primaries

Former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari has emerged the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the party’s presidential primaries that held in Lagos from December 10 – December 11.At the end of delegates’ voting on Thursday, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, scored a total of 954 votes out of the 7214 ballots.Publisher of The Leadership, Sam Nda-Isaiah had 10 votes. Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso scored 974 votes.Former Head of State, Buhari scored 3,430votes, 47.55 percent of total votes to win the widely followed presidential primaries.

Champions league update: Man City goes through Mancity 2 v As Roman 0

Samir Nasri's second-half thunderbolt and Pablo Zabaleta's late goal secured Manchester City a precious victory in Rome that sealed their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.The Frenchman's 60th-minute strike from 20 yards flicked Morgan De Sanctis' near post before nestling in thecorner and he ran off to celebrate with City's travelling supporters at the Olimpico.Argentine defender Zabaleta then addeda second in the 87th minute to put the icing on the cake for City in Italy. The victory meant Manuel Pellegrini's side finished second in Group E on eight points behind leaders Bayern Munich, who beat CSKA Moscow 3-0 at the Allianz Arena on match day six.There were some nervy moments for City towards the end as they hung onto a crucial win, and they were happy to see Manolas' header in the 71st minute cannon back off the post rather than hit the back of the net. City were without injured captain Vincent Kompany and top scorer SergioAguero for the key clash in Rome, while midfielder Yaya Toure was suspended.But the Premier League champions followed up on their dramatic win over Bayern at the Etihad last time out to move into the knock-out rounds of the Champions League.With Bayern's victory over Russian side CSKA Moscow, City could have affordedto concede a late equaliser and still qualified, but they remained firm and held out for a clean sheet.

complete story on how bin laden location was found

Did waterboarding and other coercive interrogation techniques that were used on al Qaeda detainees in CIA custody eventually lead to the Navy SEAL operation that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan early in the morning of May 2, 2011?The Senate Intelligence Committee report releasedTuesday has a simple answer to that: Hell, no!According to the Senate report, the critical pieces of information that led to discovering the identity of the bin Laden courier, Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, (Ahmed the Kuwaiti) whose activities eventually pointed the CIA to bin Laden's hiding place in Pakistan, were provided by an al-Qaeda detainee before he was subjected to CIA coercive interrogation, and was based also upon information that was provided by detainees that were held in the custody of foreign governments. (The report is silent on the interesting question of whether any of these unnamed foreign governments obtained any of their information by using torture.)Further critical information about the Kuwaiti was also provided by conventional intelligence techniques and was not elicited by the interrogations of any of the CIA detainees, according to the report.Even worse for the CIA -- which has consistently defended the supposed utility of the interrogation program, including in the hunt for bin Laden -- a number of CIA prisoners who were subjected to coercive interrogations consistently provided misleading information designed to wave away CIA interrogators from the bin Laden courier who would eventually prove to be the key to finding al Qaeda's leader.The Senate report provides the fullest accounting so far of the exact sequence of intelligence breaks that led the CIA to determine that the courier, the Kuwaiti, was likely to be living with bin Laden in Pakistan.This reads more like a careful Agatha Christie detective story than a story about the efficacy of coercive interrogations, which some have characterized as torture.The report points out that the courier was in touch with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the operational commander of the 9/11 attacks, and that it was SIGINT (signals intelligence) from phones and email traffic that made this link first in 2002, well before any CIA detainees made such a connection.Indeed, in a fascinating footnote, the report makes the case that it was "voice cuts" of the courier that were first collected in 2002 that were matched eight years later to the Kuwaiti and were"geolocated" to an area of Pakistan in 2010 where he was traveling around. This was a crucial lead that helped prompt the CIA to examine the mysterious compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where bin Laden was hiding.In 2002, reports from four different detainees held by foreign governments provided important information about the courier's age, physical appearance and family, information that was also acquired prior to any information about the courierbeing obtained from CIA detainees. Detainees heldby foreign governments also said that the courier was close to bin Laden.It was Hassan Ghul, an al Qaeda operative captured in Iraqi Kurdistan, who provided the mostdetailed account of bin Laden's courier and his relationship to bin Laden in January 2004, before he entered CIA custody.According to a CIA official cited in the report, Ghul,who was in Kurdish custody, "sang like a tweetie bird. He opened up right away and was cooperative from the outset."Ghul described the courier as bin Laden's "closest assistant" and "one of three individuals likely to be with" al Qaeda's leader. And he correctly surmised that bin Laden would have minimal security and"likely lived in a house with a family somewhere in Pakistan."If there was good intelligence coming from sources that were not in CIA custody, the Senate report demonstrates that the detainees who were in CIA custody and were subjected to coercive interrogations made every effort to hide the significance of bin Laden's courier.Five of the most senior al-Qaeda detainees in CIA custody, all of whom were subjected to some of the most intensive coercive interrogation techniques, variously said that the courier worked only with low level members of al Qaeda; that he was not a courier for bin Laden; that he wasn't close to al Qaeda's leader, and that he was focused only on his family following his marriage in 2002. None of this, of course, was true.The CIA, of course, is not happy about the portrayal of its work in the Senate report, and in a rebuttal on its website on Tuesday the agency pushed back, saying that detainees "in combination with other streams of intelligence" played a role in finding bin Laden.In particular the CIA cites a detainee, Ammar al-Baluchi, who was coercively interrogated and provided what it terms the first information indicating that the Kuwaiti was indeed bin Laden's courier, rather than just someone who was an ordinary member of al Qaeda.The CIA rebuttal is not, however as persuasive as the very detailed history laid out in the Senate report, which is buttressed by copious source notes.And, in any event, were interrogations of al Qaeda detainees really the key to how bin Laden ultimately was found? After all, it still took almost a decade after the first identification of the courier to find bin Laden.Indeed, there were a number of key breaks that had little to do with the interrogations of al Qaeda detainees, which I discovered in the course of reporting my book "Manhunt."A large break, according to U.S. counterterrorism officials, came in 2007, when a foreign intelligence service that they won't identify told the CIA that theKuwaiti's real name was Ibrahim Saeed Ahmed.It would still take three more years for the CIA to find Ibrahim Saeed Ahmed in Pakistan, a country with a population of 180 million. This involved painstaking work going through reams of phone conversations to try to locate him through his family and circle of associates.In June 2010, the Kuwaiti and his brother both made changes in the way they communicated on cell phone, which suddenly opened up the possibility of the "geolocation" of both their phones, according to U.S. counterterrorism officials.Finally, sometime in the late summer of 2010, the Kuwaiti received a call from an old friend in the Persian Gulf, a man whom U.S. intelligence officials were monitoring. "We've missed you. Where have you been?" asked the friend. The Kuwaiti responded elliptically. "I'm back with the people I was with before." There was a tense pause in the conversation as the friend mulled over that response. Likely realizing that the Kuwaiti was back in bin Laden's inner circle, the caller replied after some hesitation, "May God facilitate."The CIA took this call as a confirmation that the Kuwaiti was still working with al Qaeda, a matter that officials were still not entirely sure about.The National Security Agency was listening to this exchange and through geolocation technologies was able to zero in on the Kuwaiti's cell phone in northwestern Pakistan. But the Kuwaiti practiced rigorous operational security and was always careful to insert the battery in his phone and turn iton only when he was at least an hour's drive away from the Abbottabad compound where he and bin Laden were living. To find out where the Kuwaiti lived by monitoring his cell phone would only go so far.In August 2010, a Pakistani "asset" working for theCIA tracked the Kuwaiti to the crowded city of Peshawar, where bin Laden had founded al Qaeda more than two decades earlier. In the years when bin Laden was residing in the Abbottabad compound, the Kuwaiti would regularly transit though Peshawar, as it is the gateway to the Pakistani tribal regions where al Qaeda had regrouped in the years after 9/11.Once the CIA asset had identified the Kuwaiti's distinctive white Suzuki SUV with a spare tire on its back in Peshawar, the CIA was able to follow him as he drove home to Abbottabad, more than two hours' drive to the east.The large compound where the Kuwaiti finally alighted immediately drew interest at the agency because it didn't have phone or Internet service, which implied its owners wanted to stay off the grid.Soon, some CIA officials would come to believe that bin Laden himself was living there.

pictures from APC primaries

The APC Presidential Primaries is currentlygoing at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.There are reports that 12 APC governors have endorsed Buhari. The governors are:Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers). See mor

Photos: Malala Yousafzai receives her Noble Peace Prize

17 year old Pakistani girl rights activis lala Yousafzai received her Nobel PeacePrize today Dec. 10th at the city hall in Oslo, Norway. She won the award in October alongside Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi. Receiving her award, Malala said"I tell my story, not because it is unique, but because it is not. It is the story of many girls. I am pretty certain that I am also the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize who still fights with her younger brothers". More pics from the ceremony
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Explosion rocks busy texile market in kano

A blast has been said to rip through a busy textile market in Kano town today, December 10.

According to security source the explosion occurred at a market popularly known as Kantin Kwari Market, Sahara Reporters report.

The actual nature of the blast and casualty is yet to be ascertained, but the military is said to have raced to the scene, condoning off the area.

The Police spokesperson in Kano, DCP Bagiga said he could not immediately confirm the nature of the blast.

“I heard a huge sound coming from the back of my shop along Unity Road. I just closed the shop and tried to leave because it’s not safe,” trader Nura Sadiq told AFP.

Kantin Kwari textile market is rated the largest market in northern Nigeria with thousands of traders from neighbouring West African countries doing business there on daily basis.

The state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and other top political office holders are in Lagos for the national convention of the All Progressives Congress.

It would be recalled that multiple explosions rocked the Central Mosque in Kano on November 28. The attack was said to have claimed hundreds of lives.

A female suicide bomber was Monday, December 1, arrested at Dinshe neighbourhood near Kurna, in Kano, while allegedly attempting to launch an attack on a primary school in the area.
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Breaking News Gov Rochas Okorocha steps down for Buhari

This leaves Atiku now vying against Buhari for the converted opposition ticket, Buhari is said to be favorite for the ticket with governors having pledged their support to him.

political jokes

POLITICAL MATHS: MTH 419INSTRUCTIONS:All questions carries equal mark;Time- 1hr;Show ALL Workings:
(1)- If ACN + ANPP + APGA + CPC = APC&EFCC + ICPC + NPF + GEJ + JEGA = PDP
Find:ai) Using Pythagoras theorem, prove thatPDP > APC
aii) Using Almighty formula whereJEGA is constant, what is the power value ofPDP?If Tinubu & Buhari remain constant & Okorochavaries,what is the coefficient value of Okorocha inAPC?
c) If PDP is constant, what is the cube root ofriggingcoefficient?Where Pi = 16 > 19 & 7>19d) Use the Do or Die theory to explain the possibility ofAtiku dropping his presidential ambitione) will GEJ ever agree to drop his 2015 agendaI) if yes, how?
andii) if not, why?time starts now.... GOODLUCK but you need tohavePATIENCE.Don't forget THERE IS GOD OHHHH.
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Obasanjo react to daughter allegations....

Obasanjo and Iyabo in a PDP rally when the going was good

Obasanjo alleged that Iyabo was coerced by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to write the letter to him in a bid to embarrass him. The former president claimed he had been warned that the Jonathan administration was making attempts to turn two of his daughters against him and he warned them about it.
He opined that Iyabo fell for the plans of his political enemies because of “her character” and “the influence of her mother” – who is the Owu chief’s first wife. This is the first time the retired general is responding to his daughter’s allegations.
Obasanjo went on to write about how a “cabal” working for late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adau framed corruption charges against Iyabo while she was a senator all in a bid to get back at him for his criticisms of the Yar’Adua administration. He wrote: “My adversaries tried other means to get to me, If Obasanjo could not be cut down to size, they must have thought, what about those close to him, including his daughter? “
He continued: “The fact that my ordeal, and that of my daughter, occurred under the administration of President Yar’Adua, who was brought into power by God through me, did not surprise me. I have always held to a belief that any person who expects commendation, praise, eulogy, or credit from any human being might die a frustrated wretch.”

He named some members of the “cabal” which include Yar’Adua’s chief economic adviser, Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, Secretary to the then federal government, Babagana Kingibe and two former governor’s Senator Bukola Saraki and James Ibori of Kwara and Delta states respectfully.
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Oil Scarcity Looms in Nigeria As PENGASSAN Plans Strike

 If their plans go as planned, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) will embark on a three-day warning strike in protest against the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and other anti-labour activities of employers in the oil and gas sector. Thisday reports.
Oil workers working in an oil facility
According to Business Day, the oil workers are protesting among other things:

1. Retardation of staff promotion in the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF)

2. non-standardisation of nomenclature and collective bargaining agreement of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA) in line with what obtains in other agencies in the oil and gas industry

3. Alleged refusal of the management of Addax/Petrostuff Nigeria Limited and Chevron/Sudelletra to recall sacked staff

4. Alleged Petrobras management unprocedural release of staff and its refusal to renew expired collective agreement

5. Unjust termination of appointment of the Port Harcourt zonal secretary and treasurer of PENGASSAN and NUPENG, respectively

6. Perilous state of the nation’s strategic and industrial roads and highways, non-beneficial deductions of National Housing Fund (NHF) from our workers.

7. Un-abating measures of addressing pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, and divestment by international oil companies (IOCs) without clear guidelines to check the resultant arbitrary job losses, heightening insecurity of their members/families in the troubled parts of Northern Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Subsidy Payment: N45bn For Oil Marketers On The Way – Okonjo-Iweala

According to Punch, The association noted that the 14-day ultimatum given by its National Executive Council meeting of October 30, 2014 to the Federal Government and other concerned employers’ and agencies and further ratified by the Joint NEC of both NUPENG and PENGASSAN on October 31, 2014, had since expired without any meaningful resolution or commitment from either the government or the concerned employers’ and agencies at resolving the issues.

A statement issued by PENGASSAN national secretariat on Sunday read, “Plans are at the final stage with its sister union, Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), to mobilise members for a nationwide industrial action that will disrupt operations in the oil and gas sector until the Federal Government shows genuine intention to earnestly attend and resolve the enumerated issues at stake.”

Checks by our reporter around Ikeja, capital of Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos ,indicates that petrol stations are short of fuel as long queues have been spotted in the area and even beyond.

A twitter user @Mijiafe also gives a first-hand information on the situation in Oba-Akran, a busy commercial road in Ikeji
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Nature at it best: Two of the Biggest marine creatures battle for supremacy

 

It's a Battle Royale; one of nature's great confrontations.Under the waves cruises a pod oforcas, huge, sleek predators, each around 8 metres long and weighing some 6 tonnes. Each with big jaws, full of teeth.They are hunting a great baleen whale, one of the largest animalsthat has ever lived.Such life-or-death battles, between orcas and whales, have captured the popular imagination.But the truth is more complicated.For a start it has been unclear whether orcas, also known as killer whales, really hunt whales, and how often. Nor did we know how the whales themselves might react to such attacks.Now for the first time, scientists have recorded orcas attacking and killing humpback whales, specifically young calves. The results are published in the journalMarine Mammal Science.What's more, the humpback whales themselves aren't passive victims. They aggressively turn to battle the orcas, and even recruit "escort" whales to help fight off the attacks.Rare sightingsOrcas have developed a reputation for preying on baleen whales, a group that includes blue, fin and humpback whales among others. They have been recorded attempting to attack almost every species, and also sperm whales, the largest species of toothed whale.Many whales display tooth marks made by orcas on their tails and flippers, suggesting such attacks are common.But with a few notable exceptions, including times whenorcas have preyed upon grey whale calves, successful attacks by orcas on whales have rarely been documented.For example, humpback whales are among the most studied large whales, being observed for countless hours at sea by scientists. More orca tooth marks are found on humpbacks than any other whale species. But until now there was no scientific record of an orca killinga humpback whale.Research over recent decades has also revealed a range of orcapopulations around the world, each hunting different prey usingdifferent techniques. Many don't hunt whales at all. Some orcas for example, particularly those living in northern latitudes including the North Pacific and Antarctica, only hunt fish, while others exclusively hunt seals.But now researchers have observed the action close up.Robert Pitman, a marine biologist based at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in La Jolla, California and colleagues from the US and Australia, tracked orcas and humpback whales off the coast of Western Australia.They observed orcas attempting 22 separate attacks on humpback whales.On 14 occasions, the orcas attacked and killed a humpback whale calf.To investigate further, the scientists attached a tracker to a female orca, which allowed them to use satellites to monitor her movements. They followed her for six days.During that time, her pod attacked eight humpback whale calves. During the seven attacks in which the researchers witnessed the outcome, the orcas killed the humpback whale calf on three occasions.That suggests that, for this population of orcas at least, humpback whales are a predictable and plentiful prey, although the orcas were only seen attacking calves and not adult whales.But the story doesn't end there.Baleen whales themselves are popularly thought to be large but generally unassuming, passive creatures. Pitman's study reveals another side to their character.When chased by orcas, certain species of baleen whale are known to try to outswim their pursuers. Blue, fin and minke whales are thought to do this, sprinting at high speed so that the orcas can't keep up.On some occasions, the humpback whales seen by Pitman's team sought out protection. They swam to shallow water, nearby reefs, or even under the researchers' boats. These tactics often curtailed the attack.But at other times, the humpbackwhales decided to stay and fight.As the orcas approached, the mother humpback would sometimes move her calf to her side, or lift it out of the water using her head or flippers. She also blew huge breaths of air to disturb the orcas, and lunged or charged at them, slashing and slapping her tail and flippers.Perhaps most surprising, humpback whales also have adult "escorts" that try to protect calves that are not their own, joining the mother in defending the smaller whale. These escort whales either charged at the orcas, or placed themselves between the attackers and calf, thrashing their tails and flippers.It is not yet clear whether escort whales are related to the calves and if not, how they might benefitfrom defending them.Despite the efforts of the mother whales and escorts, the orcas were more often than not successful in their attacks. But the presence of the escorts did reduce how many times a whale calf was killed.In light of their study, the researchers believe that orcas may congregate each year off the coast of Western Australia to prey on baby humpback whales.Humpbacks usually give birth to one calf every two years, so eachcalf killed is a significant loss to a mother.
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