Posts by Michelle Collins
Tahlequah, the Southern Resident orca, gives birth to healthy calf
J35 and J57. Photo by Katie Jones, Center for Whale Research / Permit #21238 Tahlequah (J35), an orca from the Southern Resident population, has given birth to a new calf (J57). They were seen swimming together at the end of last week by scientists from the Center for Whale Research. In 2018 Tahlequah made international…
Read MoreWhy do female orcas live so long after they stop having babies?
Orcas are one of only five species known to experience menopause and females can live for many decades after their last calf. The only other mammals reported to exhibit this unusual life history strategy are short-finned pilot whales, belugas, narwhals and humans. The question of why females of any species should stop reproduction before the…
Read MoreHumpback whales swim up river in Kakadu National Park
Wildlife experts in Australia’s Northern Territory are monitoring a humpback whale that has travelled 18 miles (30km) up the East Alligator river. It is the first time a whale has been recorded swimming so far up a river in Australia. Two other whales that were originally seen in the river have returned to the ocean.…
Read MoreBeluga Sanctuary Update – July 1st
Update: 1st July 2020 We have been working to relocate belugas, Little Grey and Little White from their land-side care facilities to their sea sanctuary care pools at Klettsvik Bay this week. We had planned for Friday, July 3rd, however, our vets have confirmed that both Little Grey and Little White have a very mild…
Read MoreSignificant Victory for WDC in Fight to Save World’s Smallest Dolphins
A significant victory in the fight to save dolphins in New Zealand from extinction! This comes in the form of stricter fishing and environmental protections for the critically endangered Māui and endangered Hector’s dolphins that have been sanctioned by the government. This gives the Māui and Hector’s a fighting chance of survival and comes after…
Read MoreBeluga Whale Sanctuary Update!
We’re pleased to confirm Little Grey and Little White are now just days away from being moved from their land based care pool into their new open water home in Klettsvik Bay, Iceland. We appreciate people’s interest and excitement in their move, as Little Grey and Little White prepare for this next step. Their welfare…
Read MoreRussian Citizens Call For Action to Prevent Another Whale Jail
Reports from inside Russia have revealed more than 100,000 petition signers have raised their objections to captivity and have asked the Russian government to end captures of orcas, beluga whales and dolphins in Russian waters for sale to captive facilities. The national petition-signing campaign involved grassroots protest organizations, many scientists, and celebrities within the country. The number of…
Read MoreThe Summer of Scylla
You know how every once in awhile, you meet someone and you just click? You become friends immediately and it seems like you have known them your entire life? Every once in awhile, this happens with a whale as well! I swear I’m not crazy, let me explain. From the year I did my internship…
Read MoreA Beautiful Coincidence: WDC partners with fan club dedicated to BTS RM
I’m not sure if I believe in fate or coincidences, but in early April, all of the stars aligned for an amazing partnership to form. I was sitting at my desk, with my headphones on and chugging away at my tasks of the day. Through the sounds of my podcast, I could hear the office…
Read MoreNo fin whales will be killed in Iceland this summer
According to an announcement by the company behind Iceland’s fin whaling, Hvalur hf, no endangered fin whales will be killed off Iceland this summer. Hvalur hf, owned by Kristian Loftsson, slaughtered over 146 fin whales last year, including at least two rare blue whale/fin whale hybrids and a dozen pregnant females. Whaling is increasingly unpopular…
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