Biologist who propelled whale conservation efforts by discovering humpback song dies at 88

Biologist Roger Payne, the man who propelled conservation efforts by introducing the world to the sounds of whales, has died. He was 88.

In 1967, Payne introduced the world to the striking sounds of the sea creatures, propelling conservation efforts.

Payne's discovery was made during a research trip to Bermuda. The Navy engineer who documented the eerie, complex songs in underwater recordings was initially listening for Russian submarines.

Payne and his wife from a previous marriage, zoologist Katy Payne, used primitive equipment in the late 1960s to record the sounds of humpback whales. The two also shared four children.

Payne shared the haunting tones of whales singing to one another with the world in 1970 with the release of the album “Songs of the Humpback Whale,” which helped spur a global conservation movement.

Payne was born in New York City and studied at Harvard University and Cornell University, where he received his doctorate.

While all humpback whales can vocalize, scientists believe only males sing, and their songs are most often heard in their breeding grounds, according to NOAA.

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Roger Payne, biologist who discovered whale songs, dies