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Whale fossil from Peru may have been heavier than blue whale

Whale fossil from Peru may have been heavier than blue whale

blue whale

Scientists examining the bones of a 39 million-year-old ancient whale have concluded that it may have been heavier than a blue whale, up to now thought to be the heaviest creature ever to have lived on Earth. The fossils of the whale , known as a basilosaurid, were discovered 13 years ago in southern Peru…

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Humpback whales breach in synchronisation

Humpback whale © Christopher Swann

Humpback whales are renowned for their incredible acrobatic displays, but a family in the USA were treated to a particularly amazing experience when three humpbacks breached in perfect synchronisation in front of them. The video was taken off Cape Cod in the Gulf of Maine which humpbacks visit each year in order to feed during…

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Unusual activity witnessed before pilot whale stranding

Long-finned pilot whale

Just days after a pod of long-finned pilot whales stranded on an island in the Hebrides in Scotland, another stranding event involving the same species occurred on the other side of the world in Western Australia. Around 100 whales stranded on a remote stretch of coastline over 450km south east of Perth. There are various…

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Orca calf dies in China

The second calf of an orca known as Cookie, held in captivity at the Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park dolphinarium in China, has died shortly after being born. It was only in September 2021 that Cookie gave birth to her first calf, which went on display to the public back in June 2022. Cookie was captured…

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New report by Deloitte and WDC does a deep dive into the opportunities for businesses in embracing oceanic biodiversity

A Baby Humpback Whale Plays Near the Surface in Blue Water

Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) and Deloitte have released a new report that shines a light on the risks and opportunities for four key sectors – shipping, food retail, financial services and tourism – operating in the ocean economy. Launched on World Oceans Day (June 8th), the report highlights the key role that whales and…

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UN adopts High Seas Treaty to protect the ocean

Gray whale

At the UN ‘High Seas Treaty’ negotiations in New York, a historic vote for the protection of the ocean took place at the weekend. After two weeks of intensive talks, the UN member states have agreed on the final text of a High Seas Treaty. Most of the world’s oceans are international waters. These so-called…

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Orca Nakai dies at SeaWorld San Diego

Tilikum, the father of Nakai. © Paul Wigmore

SeaWorld San Diego has announced the death of the orca Nakai. The 20-year-old male orca was born at the facility in 2001. According to the facility, Nakai died on August 4 of an infection, after “aggressive therapeutic and diagnostic efforts were unsuccessful.” Nakai was the first orca to be born as a result of artificial…

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Fin whales return to old feeding grounds in Southern Ocean

Fin whale

An exciting discovery by researchers in the waters around Antarctica suggest that fin whales are starting to return to their former feeding grounds. During the first part of the 20th century, commercial whaling decimated whale numbers in the region as whalers reduced populations to a fraction of their original figure. By the time it become…

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