Skip to content

Ancient whale may have been heavier than blue whale

Ancient whale may have been heavier than blue whale

blue whale

Scientists examining the bones of a 39 million-year-old ancient whale have concluded that it may have been heavier than a blue whale, up to now thought to be the heaviest creature ever to have lived on Earth. The fossils of the whale , known as a basilosaurid, were discovered 13 years ago in southern Peru…

Read More

Humpback whales breach in synchronisation

Humpback whale © Christopher Swann

Humpback whales are renowned for their incredible acrobatic displays, but a family in the USA were treated to a particularly amazing experience when three humpbacks breached in perfect synchronisation in front of them. The video was taken off Cape Cod in the Gulf of Maine which humpbacks visit each year in order to feed during…

Read More

UN adopts High Seas Treaty to protect the ocean

Gray whale

At the UN ‘High Seas Treaty’ negotiations in New York, a historic vote for the protection of the ocean took place at the weekend. After two weeks of intensive talks, the UN member states have agreed on the final text of a High Seas Treaty. Most of the world’s oceans are international waters. These so-called…

Read More

100 bottlenose dolphins hunted in Faroe Islands

Common bottlenose dolphin

This morning, (July 29th), 100 bottlenose dolphins were killed in Skálafjörður on the Faroe Islands. The hunt comes just weeks after the Faroe Islands government, despite both national and international outrage, allowed the killing of 500 dolphins a year. The dolphins were kept in the bay for several hours before the entire group was slaughtered. According…

Read More

Fin whales return to old feeding grounds in Southern Ocean

Fin whale

An exciting discovery by researchers in the waters around Antarctica suggest that fin whales are starting to return to their former feeding grounds. During the first part of the 20th century, commercial whaling decimated whale numbers in the region as whalers reduced populations to a fraction of their original figure. By the time it become…

Read More

Pregnant pilot whales die in Faroe Islands hunt

Long-finned pilot whale

Sixty three long-finned pilot whales were driven onto a beach and brutally killed over the weekend in the first hunt of the year in the Faroe Islands. The hunt took place at Sandágerði in the capital Tórshavn. Several of the whales were pregnant females. The infamous drive hunts take place every year with several hundred…

Read More

River dolphins observed playing with anaconda

Amazon River dolphin (Boto)

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…

Read More

Dolphin pens identified at Russian naval base

Common bottlenose dolphin

Analysis of satellite imagery suggests that Russia may be using military dolphins at its naval base at Sevastopol in the Black Sea. Sea pens used to hold the dolphins have been identified near the entrance to the harbor. Tasks carried out by the dolphins may include searching for objects and patrolling local waters. The US…

Read More

Beluga whale Kairo dies at Oceanogràfic València

Beluga whale

A marine park in Spain has announced the death of one of the beluga whales it holds in captivity. Valencia’s Oceanografic released a statement that the male whale called Kairo had died after 20 years being held at the park. He was brought to the park from the Mar de Plata aquarium in Argentina. It…

Read More