Study shows that some whale species go through menopause

[Catherine]

New studies on Beluga Whales and Narwhales  are showing that the females of these species go through menopause. They live for decades beyond their reproductive years. This is interesting. We tended to think that humans are the only species to do this. 
It wasn't that long ago that we didn't live long enough to experience menopause. It implies a very complex society that needs and values its older females as part of the group. The older females do stay with the group.  

I think we will need to study whales more to understand the purpose of menopause for them. Also I wonder what other species experience menopause that we have not even looked at.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/belug...-1.4798359

This does have implications for whale population estimates.  We look at males and females and actual numbers. Any given population may contain more non breeding females than we realize. It may be important to the social dynamics, but we may be over estimating  how endangered some species are.

I have to wonder, do whales have hot flashes and if so what do they do about them. Do they have something that is the equivalent of "chocolate" in their diet.  I wish I could talk to an older whale female and compare notes.