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WDC2023-007 NMLC Release (16)

Seal Rescued in Marshfield Released Back Into The Wild

For Immediate Release, May 31, 2023 PLYMOUTH, MA - A young male grey seal that...

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...

Rare hybrid dolphin strands on beach in Australia

ABC in Australia report that scientists have been able to gather vital DNA samples from a rare hybrid dolphin that stranded on Cable beach in Broome, Western Australia.

When the dolphin originally came ashore, efforts were made to rescue it but it could not be saved. The dolphin was found to be suffering from lung worm.

The DNA has revealed that the mother of the dolphin was an Australian snubfin dolphin but it is not known which species the father came from with three or four other species thought to be able to breed with this species. In 2014, a study was published of hybridisation between the Australian snubfin dolphin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin.

Crossbreeding in dolphins, while rare, has been observed elsewhere, such as in Scotland where WDC’s field team have come across a Risso’s dolphin/bottlenose dolphin hybrid (pictured below).

“Hybrids are known to exist between several different species of cetacean, however their occurence is still considered rare and to be able to undertake a full examination on a dead one is unfortunate for the individual animal but intriguing for science,” says WDC’s Head of science and research, Nicola Hodgins.