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Vaquita. Photo Thomas Jefferson

Scientific Committee gives first ever official species extinction warning

Photo: Thomas Jefferson We have welcomed the urgent call by experts to protect the vaquita...
blue whale

Whale fossil from Peru may have been heavier than blue whale

Scientists examining the bones of a 39 million-year-old ancient whale have concluded that it may...
Humpback whale © Christopher Swann

Humpback whales breach in synchronisation

Humpback whales are renowned for their incredible acrobatic displays, but a family in the USA...
Long-finned pilot whale

Unusual activity witnessed before pilot whale stranding

Just days after a pod of long-finned pilot whales stranded on an island in the...

Puget Sound orcas among most contaminated marine mammals on the planet

Scientist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US have revealed studies that show orcas (killer whales) in the waters around Puget Sound off the northwestern U.S. coast are among the most contaminated marine mammals, with pollutants particularly high in the youngest whales.

This particular population of killer whales numbered more than 140 many years ago but was reduced by half in the 1970s when dozens of them were captured live to be displayed at marine parks and aquariums across the US. Since the 1990s the population has dropped by 20% with only 80 orcas now remaining.

In addition to pollution, a fall in salmon numbers, on which the orcas prey, is another major threat to the whales along with noise pollution and disturbance caused by increased boat traffic in the area.

Male orca