In the Pacific Ocean right now grey, humpback and southern right whale populations are increasing.

This is important for us all ecologically. But for some of us, even more is at stake.

Because around the world, from the equator to the Arctic, from Russia to New Zealand, throughout history and today, humans revere whales, as spiritual ancestors and as harbingers of fortune and protection.

And as we’ll learn, some communities and traditions even worship whales as gods. 

Which makes their near extinction in the 20th century nothing less than deicide.

GUESTS:

• Aike Peter Rots is principal investigator of the Whales of Power project at the University of Oslo.
• Mere Takoko is a leading Maori whale conservationist and founder and CEO of the Pacific Whale Fund.