Posts by Caroline Mowdy
What is a basking shark?
Basking shark. Credit: NOAA Expedition 2026: White Sharks and Whales SEE SHARKS AND DOLPHINS IN THE WILD What is a basking shark? Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world, only after whale sharks. The scientific name for the basking shark is Cetorhinus maximus. Where do basking sharks live? They are found throughout…
Read MoreWhat’s the difference between a shark and a dolphin?
Common dolphin. Credit: WDC Expedition 2026: White Sharks and Whales SEE SHARKS AND DOLPHINS IN THE WILD What does a shark have in common with a dolphin? They both have a dorsal fin for stability, a pectoral fin for directional movement, and a tail for propulsion, which allows them to travel efficiently through the water.…
Read MoreWhat happened to the humpback whale in Boston?
WDC-NA’s Marine Animal Rescue and Response team externally exam a deceased humpback whale. Credit: WDC Contact: Caroline Mowdy, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, [email protected], 617-688-6872 July 22, 2026 — PLYMOUTH, MA — Whale and Dolphin Conservation – North America’s (WDC-NA) Marine Animal Rescue and Response team was on site Friday, July 17, to document, take…
Read MoreDeceased humpback whale washes up near Boston
Photo credit: WCVB Channel 5 Boston Contact: Caroline Mowdy, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, [email protected], 617-688-6872 July 16, 2026 — PLYMOUTH, MA — WDC’s Marine Animal Rescue and Response team responded to the stranding of a juvenile humpback in Winthrop, MA on Wednesday, July 15. The young whale has not yet been identified, and their…
Read MoreWhat happened to Timmy the humpback whale?
Timmy being transported. Credit: Philip Dulian/AP DONATE BECOME A MEMBER The story of Timmy The saga of Timmy, an entangled humpback whale who repeatedly stranded in the Baltic off the coast of Germany, captured the attention of both the traditional and social media, raising the issue of whale strandings to the public across the globe.…
Read MoreHow is marine animal rescue funded?
Endangered Species Coalition’s Policy Advisor, Jewel (left), WDC-NA’s Assistant Stranding Coordinator, Caroline (middle), and WDC-NA’s Stranding Coordinator, Lauren (right) in front of the U.S. Capitol. © WDC DONATE BECOME A MEMBER Returning to Washington, DC Last year, while we were in Washington, DC we were told that we are most effective when we’re present in…
Read MoreNOAA risks extinction of endangered whales by weakening vessel speed rule
© Tucker Joenz Florida FWC, taken under NOAA permit 18786 Contact: Regina Asmutis-Silvia, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, (508) 451-3853, [email protected] Jewel Tomasula, Endangered Species Coalition, (202) 930-3044, [email protected] March 7, 2026 — WASHINGTON, DC — North Atlantic right whales are dangerously close to extinction with fewer than 400 individuals remaining and only an estimated 70 reproductively…
Read MoreHow do animal rescue organizations work together?
WDC's Assistant Stranding Coordinator giving supportive care to a dolphin during a mass stranding. © IFAW 2024 In early March, Whale and Dolphin Conservation – North America (WDC-NA) was one of 13 Greater Atlantic Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Network organizations who gathered at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) on Cape Cod for a…
Read MoreDo humpback whales mate for life?
Humpback whale. © WDC In the winter months, WDC’s Whale Adoption humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, migrate from their feeding grounds in the Gulf of Maine to their breeding grounds in the West Indies. In these warmer waters, humpback whales mate, give birth, and nurse their young. While in the breeding grounds, competitive groups form for…
Read MoreCourt Urged to Uphold Vessel Strike Protections for North Atlantic Right Whales
Boomerang and 2026 calf © Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute taken under NOAA permit 26919 Funded by Georgia DNR and NOAA Fisheries Contact: Regina Asmutis-Silvia, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, (508) 451-3853, [email protected] Jay Petrequin, Defenders of Wildlife, (202) 772-0243, [email protected] Michael Naughton, Conservation Law Foundation, (617) 850-1709, [email protected] Kristen Monsell, Center for Biological Diversity, (914)…
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