Posts by Michelle Collins
My Gratitude List: Whales, Dolphins, and YOU
Like many others, my 2020 has included many phases – from the incredibly optimistic phase, the nervous to leave my house phase, the haven’t-worn-pants-without-an-elastic-band phase, the figuring out video meetings phase, to the thinking my dogs are the only ones who understand me phase. One of the phases that I went through involved obsessively trying…
Read MoreFrom Whaling to Whale Watching
The boat ride home on a whale watch can have many different moods. Sometimes you are coming down from your rush of adrenaline and are still so excited about all of the amazing whales you just saw. Sometimes you replay different moments in your mind over and over again. Sometimes you just need some water,…
Read MoreHow many right whales are left?
This week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the population estimate (aka number alive) for North Atlantic right whales is 366 whales as of January 2019. The previous population estimate from January 2018 was 412 whales. With a difference of 46 whales between estimates, I had some questions about how all of…
Read MoreMass stranding of pilot whales in Tasmania
Over 450 pilot whales have stranded in various locations along a stretch of coastline in a remote part of Tasmania in Australia. Originally it was thought around 270 whales were involved but another group was subsequently discovered. Around 380 whales are thought to have died in the waters around Macquarie Harbour near Strahan on the…
Read MoreSuccess! France to ban captivity of whales and dolphins in marine parks
WDC’s continued campaigning to end the keeping of whales and dolphins in captive facilities for human entertainment has received a big boost with the announcement by the French environment minister that the country will bring an end to this cruel practice. Barbara Pompili, France’s minister of ecological transition, revealed this week that a gradual ban…
Read MoreBelugas take ‘little steps’ into the ocean sanctuary
We are pleased to confirm that beluga whales, Little Grey and Little White, have taken their first swim in their open water sanctuary home in Iceland – a project that WDC is working on in partnership with the SEA LIFE Trust . Carefully monitored by the whales’ expert care team, Little Grey and Little White…
Read MoreTahlequah, 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…
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