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Norway ups whale kill numbers and removes whale welfare protections

The whaling season in Norway has begun on the back of disturbing announcements from the...
Image taken from an unmanned hexacopter at >100ft during a research collaboration between NOAA/SWFSC, SR3 and the Coastal Ocean Research Institute. Research authorized by NMFS permit #19091.

Southern Resident orca petition to list them under Oregon Endangered Species Act advanced

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted today to advance a petition seeking to protect...
Hysazu Photography

WDC and Conservation Partners Continue to Seek Oregon Endangered Species Protection for Southern Resident Orcas

On Friday, April 21st, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will determine whether the petition...
WDC Seal Rescue April 2023 (1)

WDC conducts milestone seal rescue in Marshfield

For Immediate Release, April 10, 2023 MARSHFIELD, MA - A young grey seal was found...

Prehistoric beaked whale found with last meal

A beaked whale, Messapicetus gregarius that lived round 9 million years ago, has been discovered with remnants of what researchers believe may have been its last meal. The fossil of the whale was found in rocks in southwestern Peru last year.

Writing in the the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B., their findings reveal that a large number of sardine-like fish were found around its head and in its chest. It is the discovery of these fish that is most significant as they are thought to have lived near the surface of the ocean, much like their descendants do. This provides new information of the evolution of beaked whales as their modern-day relatives generally live and feed in deep water. Indeed, the Cuvier’s beaked whale holds the record for the deepest dive of a whale ever recorded.

The researchers think that the evolution of dolphins soon after and their success in the shallow coastal waters forced the beaked whales to head for deeper depths where they flourished.

The full scientific report can be read at: http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/282/1815/20151530

Cuvier’s beaked whale © Tim Stenton