To go through the looking glass 

When a whale surfaces, we have but a few seconds to observe it; the time it takes to fill its lungs with air, and then it disappears into the deep. Because water is such an inhospitable environment for humans, whale researchers have had to innovate to go through the looking glass. On occasion they have had to adapt existing techniques to their own needs. Discover the techniques that allow researchers to study the world of whales.

• Photo-identification
• Biopsy
• Carcass recovery network
• Telemetry
• Marine acoustics
• Aerial surveys
• Analysis of stable isotopes and fatty acids
• Progesterone dosage