Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Cazikins on August 10, 2016, 08:50:07 AM
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Just seen this article on the BBC website - might be interseting.
Scientists from Exeter and York University are studying the evolution of the menopause, and have found clues to its origin in killer whales.
Humans and orca are two of only three species that evolved to stop having babies half-way through their lives - something even great apes and long-lived elephants do not do. While some have suggested that menopause is a side-effect of our own greater longevity, researchers say that orcas could hold the key to what's been a long-standing evolutionary mystery.
BBC science reporter Victoria Gill joined the scientists on an unusual whale-watching trip of the North Pacific Coast.
Filmed and edited by David Cheeseman and Victoria Gill
Hear more on this story and the BBC's encounter with the Southern Resident orca on The Whale Menopause, BBC Radio 4, Wednesday at 2100 BST
Read more
Can orcas ever be healthy in captivity?
Whales and humans linked by 'helpful grandmothers'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37025088
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Yes I saw it! They have studied a pod/families in the wild for 40years ,the conclusion they have come to is that its essential for the older females to nnot be able to reproduce anymore so they can hunt thus leaving the younger mothers to fully look after the offspring !
Im off now to forage ........ :rofl:
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Does that mean I can go out and hunt people down? :)
I could get to like this...
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Anyone in particular Ancient runner ? ;) ;D. I could soon make a list.
Wonder what the 3rd species would be? Interesting study to propose and to take part in ……… wonder who Funded it, may have the energy to read the Link later.
Next query then: do orca get VA :-\
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Saw this on the lunchtime news. I think the third species was one of the great apes
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Maybe it's the whales' hot flushes that are melting the polar ice caps ;D
Seriously though, must listen to it
Flutterby
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How very interesting! And yeah, CLKD - I wonder if they do get VA?!?
I really think I should be allowed to go out and hunt folk down too - I've got quite a list, and it's growing a lot lately...... :o
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Saw this on the lunchtime news. I think the third species was one of the great apes
I heard it on the news at work today & they said 'two marine species', but didn't mention what the other one was. But they specifically said that apes and elephants can breed up to the end of their lives.
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Hello ladies.
The lunchtime news reported that the scientists had been closely following the whales from their boat. If I was a menopausal Orca they'd do well keep their distance!
Take care all.
K.
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:rofl:
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;D ;D ;D
Maybe they don't get symptoms so badly - all that sea water must help cool down hot flushes!
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Well then. Now we can guess why whales sometimes beach themselves! They're menopausal and trying to escape for a bit of fresh air.
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I feel like a beached whale sometimes I must admit ;D ;D
Did anyone listen to it tonight? - bu**er I forgot. Hopefully there maybe a link tomorrow.
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Maybe males don't like older orca :-\ so head for the younger models :-X
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Maybe males don't like older orca :-\ so head for the younger models :-X
They don't know what they are missing then - I've got myself a younger male bull ;D ;D
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:o ……….. :-X
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I haven't read this yet but I will do later:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37025092
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We seem to have 2 threads about this ::)
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I read the article last night & to be honest it didn't seem to be of much interest to me as regards to the menopause. :-\
I mean I am childless (my choice) & this article covered mothers & grandmothers - so that may be the reason that I didn't get it, but it just didn't explain why whales have a menopause.
Maybe in the next life I will be a whale.... oh no but I can't swim. :D :D
Cazi x
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You'll soon learn Cazikins once you R born directly into the sea ;D
I am childless by choice …….. I don't think that any other mammal has a menopause regardless of the article ;-).
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Bitches/queens don't as far as I know have menopause ……….. apes, mares ??? thinking now, how to find out?
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Saw this on the lunchtime news. I think the third species was one of the great apes
I heard it on the news at work today & they said 'two marine species', but didn't mention what the other one was. But they specifically said that apes and elephants can breed up to the end of their lives.
Pilot Whales, I stand corrected :-X
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Well - humans have monthly periods. Which we know about. Other mammals go into oestrus which means that they are 'ready' to mate. The act of penetration releases the ovum which is why cats/dogs can have young, each one by a different father. Rabbits the same, buck jumps on, 2/3 thrusts, falls off the doe. Job done. 30-36 days later, kits are born.
Our does used to throw 11 at a time - as they aged, the litters got fewer and fewer until 1 kit would be born by which time it wasn't worth putting the buck in again. Rabbits don't live long in the wild, our oldest bun was 11 years old. Sadly he died of fly strike :'( for which I've never forgiven myself :sigh:
In the wild, dogs/cats - who knows. How long do they live? So my question is: do orga have oestrus in which case they probably don't have menopause.
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If we take 'menopause' in the strict meaning of the word (ie - cessation of menstruation), then I think orcas wouldn't have menopause as they never menstruate in the first place (that wouldn't be a strong survival trait when you share your living quarters with predators that can taste blood from over 2 miles away!!).
But, the article refers to 'post-reproductive life' rather than menopause - a feature we share with these whales. We and the whales, alone (as far as we know) in the animal kingdom, live long and active lives after we cease to be able to reproduce (by whatever mechanism that cessation happens). It doesn't try to explain why menopause happens - more why we live beyond menopause.
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:thankyou: