The Whale
Summary
Snap Judgment presents two stories about the sea’s power. First, on La Palma, a veterinary team performs an autopsy on a stranded sperm whale, discovering a valuable ambergris stone that killed the animal. Second, in Trinidad, California, students witness orcas hunting a mother and calf, leading to a dramatic rescue when the baby whale washes ashore.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Progressive Insurance and Odu
Intro: The awe of witnessing whales
Setting the scene: La Palma, Canary Islands
The 2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption
A sperm whale strands on a remote beach
The veterinary team mobilizes and travels
Arrival at the beach and initial assessment
Ruling out ship strike; beginning the necropsy
The tide rises, cutting time short
Sponsor: Where Is Austin Tice
Finding an intestinal obstruction
Discovering a massive stone inside the whale
Identifying the stone as ambergris
Celebrating the discovery and cleaning up
Reflecting on the volcano's destruction
Debate over the stone's value and ownership
Legal restrictions and the stone's symbolic value
The stone's display and episode credits
Sponsor: The New Yorker Radio Hour
New Story: A school field trip to Trinidad
Orcas appear and begin hunting
A mother and calf whale beach themselves
Rescue efforts and the calf's survival
Aftermath, credits, and Snap Judgment outro
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