There is Potentially a New Southern Resident Orca Calf from K Pod!
A hopeful and interesting update on the Southern Resident orcas: in late April, photos and video were taken of part of L and K pods off the coast of Oregon and shared with the Center for Whale Research. Among the familiar fins of K pod was a special sighting: an extra-small fin trailing close behind…
Read MoreRiver 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…
Read MoreGive whales a ‘high five’ and donate $5!
We are celebrating how amazing whales and dolphins are by giving whales a high five! By donating just $5, you will help WDC continue our ongoing work to protect whales and dolphins through outreach, policy, and science. 735 Help us reach our goal of $2,000 by giving whales a high $5 GIVE WHALES A HIGH…
Read MoreA New Calf Provides Hope for Endangered Southern Resident Orcas
Sara Hysong Shimazu (Hysazu Photography) GOOD NEWS – A new baby orca! On March 1st, observers with Washington State-based Center for Whale Research and Orca Behavior Institute were watching members of J pod of the Southern Resident orca community off San Juan Island and spotted a tiny dorsal fin amongst the more familiar orcas. The…
Read MoreEnter to win a copy of “We Are All Whalers”
Synopsis of “We Are All Whalers” Relating his experiences caring for endangered whales, a veterinarian and marine scientist shows we can all share in the salvation of these imperiled animals. The image most of us have of whalers includes harpoons and intentional trauma. Yet eating commercially caught seafood leads to whales’ entanglement and slow death…
Read MoreNewly discovered whale species – introducing Ramari’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon eueu)!
Ramari Steward and nihongore skeleton Credit: Tanya Cumberland New species of whale includes “traditional” naming by carrying an Indigenous name and the name of a woman scientist. When a pregnant beaked whale stranded in New Zealand in 2011, an external examination identified her as a True’s beaked whale. Very little is known about beaked whales,…
Read MoreRescuers search for orca family after saving stranded calf
An orca calf is receiving medical care in New Zealand after becoming stranded near Wellington yesterday. The whale has been moved to a segregated harbour area while rescue teams search for the juvenile orca’s pod. It is hoped the rest of the calf’s family are still in the area and they can be reunited. According…
Read MorePacific Gray Whale Population Drops by Nearly 25%
Being taken off the endangered species list sadly doesn’t guarantee a carefree future for whales. Recent research estimates that the population of Pacific gray whales off North America’s West Coast has declined by almost a quarter since 2016. These whales are known for the epic migrations between their Arctic feeding grounds and the breeding lagoons…
Read MoreAnimal culture crucial for conservation says new research paper
New research published today in The Royal Society Journal Proceedings B creates a compelling case for integrating the social learning and culture of creatures like whales into decision-making. WDC’s Philippa Brakes, together with a number of experts working on a wide range of species, from whales to chimpanzees, argues in the new paper that the…
Read MoreEnter to win a virtual ticket to the pre-screening of National Geographic’s “Secrets of the Whales”
To celebrate Earth Day, National Geographic’s “Secrets of the Whales” is being released on Disney+ on April 22nd. This 4-part series plunges viewers deep within the epicenter of whale culture to experience the extraordinary communication skills and intricate social structures of five different whale species: orcas, humpbacks, belugas, narwhals and sperm whales. WDC is excited…
Read More