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DECEMBER 21, 2000

Historic Alaska Native harpoons found in bowhead whales recently killed by Inupiat hunters are helping show that the whale can live as long as 200 years.

Since 1981, six harpoons not used since the 1880s have been found in freshly killed whales. They also have traditions of whales outlasting several generations, identified by markings on the whales' bodies.

Researchers are now confirming the old age of the whales by studying changes in amino acids in lenses of their eyes. Previously, it was thought they could live up to 100 years.

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New research suggests bowhead whales could live 200 years (AP 12/21)