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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...

300 pilot whales die after stranding in New Zealand

Around 300 pilot whales have died after stranding in Golden Bay at Farewell Spit on New Zealand’s South Island. The location has been the scene of mass strandings in the past. 

Most of the whales were already dead by the time rescuers arrived but around 100 whales have been released back into the sea in the hope they will head back out to the deeper waters where these whales are normally found. Around 500 people took part in the rescue.

Find out more about strandings

This is the largest stranding of its kind in New Zealand. Pilot whales often strand in large groups in the region. They live in very tight social groups and usually when they beach it appears that either a lead individual has made a navigational mistake, or one individual has become sick or wounded and led the rest of their pod onto the shore.

Update (13/2): Over the weekend the rescued whales were joined by a new group of around 2-300 whales. A human chain was formed to prevent the whales stranding. 17 whales did strand overnight and were rescued by a team from the New Zealand strandings organization, Project Jonah and other volunteers. These whales then rejoined the main group. Since then, the whales have remained 1-2 kilometres offshore but there have been no further strandings. The situation is being monitored until the whales return to deeper waters.

Update (15/2): Eight more whales were found on a beach at Taupata Point, south of Farewell Spit on Tuesday. Rescuers kept the whales cool and wet and hoped that the high tide overnight would enable the whales to refloat themselves. This appears to have been successful with no whales still on the beach on Wednesday.