An Australian-led group of scientists has for the first time tracked down Antarctic blue whales by using sound technology to follow their songs, the nation’s government said on Wednesday. The blue whale, the largest animal on the planet, is rarely found in the Southern Ocean, but a group of brave researchers were able to locate some of them after picking up their deep and complex vocals. It was the first time sound has been used to lead researchers to the whales. “They are quite, almost alien (外星人的) -like sounds. They are quite intense and very interesting to listen to.” Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke said, “The achievements of this non-deadly research method clearly show it is not necessary to kill whales in order to study them.” The group plans to present its results at this year’s meeting of the International Whaling Commission, the international body set up to manage whales. Burke said the researchers, who spent seven weeks working from small boats in freezing Antarctic conditions, were attracted by the remarkable behavior of the whales they saw. “The Antarctic blue whale can grow to more than 30 meters in length and weigh up to 180 tons — its tongue alone is heavier than an elephant, and its heart is as big as a small car,” Burke sai d. “Even the largest dinosaur (恐龙) was smaller than the blue whale.” Andrews- Goff said the scientists were often out in boats only six meters in length, sitting alongside the 30-meter giants. “I felt like an ant next to one of these huge whales. They are huge.” she sai d. The scientists collected 23 samples and attached satellite tags to two of the whales, giving them never-before obtained data on the animals’ movements during their summer feeding season and their foraging (觅食) behavior. “This method of studying Antarctic blue whales has been so successful that it will now become the blueprint for other whale researchers across the worl d.” Andrews- Goff predicte d. She said while one tag stopped working after 17 days, the second was still working after two weeks, although irregularly.