Moby Chip.

ARGENTINE AND U.S. SCIENTISTS have called in Argentina's National Commission of Space Studies to track endangered whales. Researchers have observed the protected Southern White Whale--pushed near extinction by overhunting 50 years ago--during annual migrations to the Valdes Peninsula off Argentina's Atlantic coast. But studies on migration and feeding habits have failed because they have no idea where the estimated 3,500 remaining members of the species go from there. * The Argentine-funded group hopes to find out using new technology. The plan is to attach transmitters that would send a signal to satellites each time the whale surfaces for air. However, the scientists are still conducting tests to determine the best way to place the chips near the whales' blowholes. * One scheme is to use a low-power harpoon to implant each radio beacon. The experts say the whales will not feel the transmitter or the harpoon and they hope not to disrupt breeding habits. * Environmentalists don't buy it. Aside from complainin g about the harpooning, they are also concerned that tracking data could fall into the hands of commercial whale hunters. Authorities say this could never happen, but still, the Luddite whale lovers believe that, in this case, ignorance is bliss.