New method to study whales could reduce killing

BBC Online reports that Australian scientists have developed a method of studying whales without killing them. By analyzing the whale feces they can determine the species, quantity, and origin of krill eaten by the whales, in addition to a large number of other factors about the health of the whales and their ecosystem. Such analysis, which the scientest say is far cheaper than hunting whales, could replace most of the "research" currently used as the justification to kill some whales.