Rescuers find young girl’s body surrounded by dolphins
Reports from South Africa about a tragic drowning off Llandudno beach, Cape Town say that the body of a teenager was found surrounded by a pod of dolphins. Rescue services launched a search for the missing 15-year-old girl who is thought to have slipped off the rocks and been swept away by strong currents. Her body…
Read MoreElusive whale seen alive for the first time
Using DNA evidence, scientists have been able to officially confirm the first live sightings of the Sato’s beaked whale. Up to now the only Sato’s whales seen have been the few that have washed up dead and some unconfirmed reports from whale hunters. As a result, we know very little about their lives, habits, where…
Read MoreFin whales return to old feeding grounds in Southern Ocean
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…
Read MoreHumpback whale rescued from shark net in Australia
A humpback whale and her calf have managed to escape after becoming entangled in a shark net off the coast of Queensland.. Humpback whales spend the austral summer in Antarctica before migrating north during the winter months to breed and give birth in warmer waters. Their migration route takes them along the east or west…
Read MoreRiver dolphins observed playing with anaconda
Researchers in Bolivia recorded an unusual interaction between local rivers dolphins and an anaconda snake last year in the Tijamuchi river. The two species would not normally interact but on this occasion a group of dolphins, some of which appeared to be juveniles, were seen carrying the snake through the water. At times the dolphins…
Read MoreNew fossil gives insight into feeding habits of ancient orcas
New research by scientists suggests that orcas and false killer whales only evolved to feed on marine mammals within the last one million years. The two species are the only members of the 90 or so species of cetacean (whales, dolphins and porpoises) that are known to do this. Recent analysis of a 1.4 million…
Read MoreHumpback whale freed from rope entanglement by passing orcas
A strange incident involving a pod of orcas and an entangled humpback whale off the coast of western Australia has left experts scratching their heads. Observers from Whale Watch Western Australia captured drone footage of what appeared to be a number of orcas freeing a humpback whale from a discarded rope that had become wrapped…
Read MoreWDC researchers spot dolphin doing headstands
Researchers from WDC carrying out field work in Scotland have been left puzzled by the sight of a Risso’s dolphin performing underwater ‘headstands’ – something they have never seen before in the UK. The dolphin was spotted off the Isle of Lewis repeatedly suspended vertically with his or her nose down, fully underwater. There have…
Read MoreNew whale species discovered – Ramari’s beaked whale
Artist impression of Ramiri’s beaked whale. Credit: Vivian Ward A new species of beaked whale has been identified in New Zealand, the latest discovery involving these unusual and rarely seen whales. In 2011, a pregnant beaked whale stranded on the coast and an initial external examination identified her as a True’s beaked whale. This whale…
Read MoreRescuers search for orca family after saving stranded calf
An orca calf is receiving medical care in New Zealand after becoming stranded near Wellington yesterday. The whale has been moved to a segregated harbour area while rescue teams search for the juvenile orca’s pod. It is hoped the rest of the calf’s family are still in the area and they can be reunited. According…
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