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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...

River 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 were unusually holding their heads out of the water.

It is unclear if the snake was unwell or already dead but the long snouts of the dolphins, filled with small teeth used to catch fish, would seem to be an unlikely threat for a healthy snake.

Anacondas belong to the boa family of snakes and catch their prey using constriction rather than venom. They spend a lot of their time in and around water. The Bolivian or Beni anaconda can grow to over four meters in length and weigh 35 kg.

It is unclear what the purpose of these interaction was - it may have been that older dolphins were teaching the younger ones about their environment and it is also known that dolphin will often play with objects and other animals they find.

River dolphins in Bolivia are a sub-species of the Amazon River dolphin. All river dolphins are under threat from human activities.

Read the scientific paper at the Ecology Society of America website

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