Why do whales and dolphins strand on beaches?
People often ask me ‘why’ whales and dolphins do one thing or another. I’m a whale and dolphin scientist and so it’s my job to know stuff like that. Over recent days, the world has watched the heart-breaking scenes on two remote New Zealand beaches as almost 500 pilot whales have died after becoming stranded.…
Read MoreMeet the legendary pink river dolphins
Botos don’t look or live like other dolphins. Flamingo-pink all over with super-skinny snouts and chubby cheeks, they certainly stand out in a crowd. And they never set a flipper in the ocean – home is the fresh, flowing waters of three mighty South American river basins: the Amazon, Orinoco and Tocantins-Araguaia. The botos’ magnificent realm…
Read MoreA humpback whale teacher named Salt who helps keep you and me alive
Salt is a remarkable whale. In fact she’s probably the most famous humpback whale in the world. She was one of the first humpbacks to be identified back in 1975 when researchers began recognising and cataloguing individuals, and we know that she’s at least 46 years old. She has 15 children and is a great…
Read MoreDid you know dolphins use tools? Meet the Shark Bay spongers …
Like humans, dolphins live in societies with unique cultures. Like us, they bond with others who share similar traditions and habits. In Shark Bay, Australia, bottlenose dolphin society is multicultural and awesome. There are the beachers – dolphins who chase fish onto the seashore, temporarily beaching themselves in the process, and the shellers who lift…
Read MoreWhale culture and conservation: to infinity and beyond …
In 1977, the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft launched, carrying with them the song of humpback whales and greetings in 55 human languages. Why was humpback whale song chosen to accompany this time capsule of life on Earth being projected to the outer reaches of our solar system and beyond? Perhaps because it is haunting,…
Read MoreMeet the brainiacs of the underwater world – deep thinkers with intricate emotional lives
Whales and dolphins have big brains, and large brained beings have a few things in common. We live long lives, we’re sociable and our behaviour is complex. Females give birth to just a few children and take extraordinary care of each baby, teaching them life skills and helping them to become independent. Whales and dolphins behave in ways…
Read MoreGrowing up with the amazing Adelaide Port River dolphins
A group of bottlenose dolphins lives in the Port River in the city of Adelaide. Adelaide is also home to marine biologist Dr Mike Bossley who set up a project 32 years ago to study and protect these unique dolphins and WDC has supported Mike’s work for much of this time. He has some very…
Read MoreWhales and dolphins have flippin’ awesome support bubbles
Friends and family all get involved in bringing up the younger generation of whales and dolphins. Losing the childcare provided by our extended families, childminders, nurseries and schools has put pressure on many families. We rely on these support networks to take care of our young while we do what we need to do to…
Read MoreJoy and sadness watching Hector’s dolphins in their wild place
Dr Nicolette Scourse is an academic, educator, author and illustrator with a passion for whales, dolphins and the ocean. In her guest blog she remembers a magical time spent in the company of endangered Hector’s dolphins in New Zealand. She takes us on an evocative journey into their wild home and wonders about their future.…
Read MoreA breath of fresh air – why I love studying beautiful Commerson’s dolphins
Lockdown in Argentina has been long and tough and so I was excited when restrictions eased and we could finally visit our Commerson’s dolphin field research project. After spending close to a year in confinement in my home city of Buenos Aries, it was literally a breath of fresh air to travel to the beautiful,…
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