by Yevgeniya SIDOROVA, journalist On September 24-28, 2012, the 7th International Conference "Marine Mammals of Holarctic Region", organized by the Marine Mammal Council was convened in Suzdal. Specialists from Russia, Ukraine, USA, Great Britain, Canada, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Kazakhstan, and Iran met to discuss the latest results of studies of whales and dolphins, walruses and seals, sea otters and polar bears. Today the scientists have rich data on dynamics of populations of these animals, their migrations, genetics, however, a great number of questions remain unanswered. The participants of the forum spoke about necessity of generalization of the data, received by teriologists of different countries. The range of the subjects discussed at the conference, which was attended by representatives of 79 organizations from 11 countries of the world, was very wide and a great number of reports deserve a special attention, so interesting were subjects, methods of studies and conclusions, the scientists arrived at. But, any effort to comprehensively discuss all problems within the framework of one article are destined to be a failure. Therefore, we will deal with some problems of sea technology, which were reflected in the reports of the participants and are important for effective protection of animals. THE ACHILLES HEEL OF WHALES The works, connected with the studies of whales, make up 54 percent of all research related to sea mammals. And it is not accidental. "Whales are a mystery for man,"-- said the chairman of the Organizational Committee of the Conference "Sea Mammals of Holarctic Region* VII", RAS corresponding member Alexei Yablokov.--"In contradistinction to a majority of animals, they spend a * Holarctic Region--the biggest biogeographical region of the Earth, enclosing a greater part of the Northern hemisphere with peculiar flora and fauna. Its southern border runs along the north of Mexico, includes islands of Ca ... Читать далее