Wildlife Extra - Whales & Dolphins

Recent Whales & Dolphins news

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Whale and dolphin ID from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

New England whale watching and research

The other England - the US's New England - is also blessed with wonderful whales and dolphins to see, as Ben Mallion reports.

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Biscay ORCA Big Whale Watch 2008 clocks up 9 cetacean species

Biscay whale watch 2008.
In two days we had encountered 9 species of cetacean, including rare beaked whales, leaping Bottlenose Dolphins, large tuna, the second largest whale on earth, and ghostly white Risso's Dolphins.

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Whales and dolphins of Oman - Dolphins, Humpbacks and Blue whales!

Oman may not be well known as a whale and dolphin hotspot, but research by the Oman Whale and Dolphin Research Group (OWDRG) had turned up some surprising discoveries.

Four Arnoux’s Beaked Whales observed from Polarstern expedition

December 2006. Meike Scheidat & Linn Lehnert, the whale scientists on board of Polarstern, made a remarkable cetaceans sighting: Four Arnoux’s Beaked Whales (Berardius arnuxii), observed from the helicopter.

Is southern Sri Lanka the world's top spot for seeing Blue and Sperm whales?

On twenty two whale watching sessions in the first twenty six days of April, Jetwing Lighthouse naturalist Anoma Alagiyawadu saw Blue whales every time.

Is Belize An Unrecognised Hot Spot For Whale Watching?

For many, Belize sounds like a far flung exotic destination, but few can put their finger on its exact location and think of a reason to spend a holiday there.

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Gray whale spotted off Namibia

On 04 May 2013, tour boats on a dolphin cruise to Pelican Point (Namibia) saw a strange whale. Several more sightings during the following week seemed to indicate the unlikely fact that a Gray whale was visiting Walvis Bay! On Sunday 12 May a member of the Walvis Bay strandings network confirmed the reports that there was a Gray whale in the locality. This is the first known record of this species in the Southern Hemisphere. The question is now "what is the origin of this whale?"

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Why are so many Southern right whales dying in Patagonia?

At least 605 right whales have died along the Argentine coast since 2003, including 538 new-born calves. One hundred and thirteen calves died in 2012 alone. The Southern Right Whale Health Monitoring Program is working with scientists worldwide to determine why the whales are dying, but as yet, a common cause remains to be found.

Largest pod of Scottish sperm whales for nearly 20 years

A pod of 14 sperm whales was spotted off North Berwick last week; the whales were thought to be heading towards Fife. This is the largest group ever seen in the North Sea and one of the largest pods ever seen off the UK coast - according to marine research and conservation charity Sea Watch Foundation.

New population of rare Irrawaddy dolphins found in the Philippines

A new population of critically-endangered Irrawaddy dolphins has been found in the Philippines.

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A pod of five sperm whales sighted inshore off North West Scotland

An extraordinary winter sighting of five Sperm whales off the coast of North West Scotland this week could be a reflection of climate change and warming sea temperatures, says a leading marine scientist.

700 – 1000 dolphins killed in Solomon Islands

700 - 1000 dolphins have been killed in the Solomon Islands. There is a history of hunting dolphins for meat, and for their teeth, but it was hoped that a 2011 agreement had brought this practise to an end.

Britain's only resident orca pod – No breeding for 20 years

The conservation status of the group is thought to be critical since no live calves have been sighted since research began almost two decades ago.

World's rarest whale seen for the first time

Previously only known from a few fragments of jaw bone, the world's rarest whale, the spade-toothed beaked whale, has been sighted for the first time according to scientists from The University of Auckland.

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Albino Humpback whale seen off Svalbard

These extraordinary photos were very kindly sent to us by Dan Fisher, who spotted this beautiful white Humpback, and took some fantastic photos of the whale. Wildlife Extra believes that the whale is an albino, as we can see no colouration at all on the whale, and there does seem to be a pink tinge to his/her eyes and mouth.

40 Blue whales sighted off San Diego coast

About forty Blue whales have been sighted swimming in waters 15 miles west of La Jolla.

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South Korea launches alleged 'Scientific whaling' to add to their 'bycatch' - ARSE

July 2012. South Korea has announced plans to launch ‘scientific whaling’ of Minke whales, similar to that run by Japan, but potentially even more damaging to whales as they will target Minke near the shores of Korea, a small and vulnerable population.

North Atlantic right whale spotted off Cornwall?

Sightings of a large whale off the Cornish coast near Lizard Point are causing a stir amongst scientists who say it could have been a North Atlantic right whale, one of the most endangered species in the world.

White killer whale observed off Russia - Images and video

In the North Pacific, east of the Kamchatka Peninsula near the Commander Islands, the first-ever adult all-white, probably albino, orca bull has been observed.

Scientists perplexed as Russian whale surfaces in California

Last year scientists were surprised when Flex, the first Gray whale they tagged, crossed the Bering Straight and headed south part Oregon. It was previously assumed that Western Gray whales were a distinct population from the eastern Gray, and that they spent their winters in the South China Sea. Scientists may have to review all their thoughts on this matter after further evidence that western Gray whales are crossing the Bering Straight to winter of the USA.

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society brings Japan's whaling season to an early halt

According to Sea Shepherd Society, the Japanese whaling fleet has left the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and they are heading home. This means their whaling season has finished a month early, and that at least 50% of the whales targetted by the whalers have been saved.

Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year winners 2012.

The winners of the internationally respected Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition 2011 have been announced. Young Wildlife Photographer of The Year - 10 Years and Under winner. Alien - By Hui Yu Kim (Malaysia)/ Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011.

First record of a Dwarf sperm whale in UK waters

A small whale spotted in Mounts Bay next to the Cornish town of Penzance is thoughtto have been a dwarf sperm whale - tropical/subtropical species that has never before been recorded off the UK coast.

White Humpback whale calf off Queensland

A white Humpback whale calf, probably just a few weeks old, was spotted and photographed in the Whitsunday Islands off Australia's Queensland Coast. The calf was probably born in northern Great Barrier Reef waters and is just a couple of weeks old.

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Melbourne’s dolphins declared as a new species

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Mekong dolphin on the verge of extinction

The critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin population in the Mekong River numbers just 85, WWF research has revealed.

Sei whale spotted off Scotland

Aerial photos taken by a Scottish paramedic of a large whale between Islay and Gigha off the west coast of Scotland have intrigued international scientists on both sides of the Atlantic. On balance they believe the sighting is most likely to be of a very rare Sei whale.

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Albino Humpback spotted off Queensland

Migaloo -A Humpback whale that is bigger than a truck and iridescent white - has returned to Queensland's waters. He has joined a record number of Humpbacks making their annual migration to the warm Reef water from Antarctica.

21 Fin whales spotted in Irish Sea

One of the largest ever known gatherings of Fin whales in British waters has recently been observed in the Celtic Deep, 50-70 nautical miles off the coasts of north Cornwall and south west Pembrokeshire.

100 pilot whales in danger of stranding in Scotland.

The Scottish SPCA and British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) are monitoring up to 100 pilot whales thought to be in danger of becoming stranded off the South Uist coast.

Iceland and Japan launch spring whale hunts

The Icelandic Minke Whalers Association has confirmed that one of its boats has sailed from Hafnarfjorður for the start of the Minke whaling season in Iceland.

Sperm whale found on Kent beach

Japanese whaling fleet abandons whaling grounds

According to government sources, Tokyo has now decided to cut short this year's Antarctic whale hunt and Japan's whaling fleet is heading back to port with less than half of its projected quota.

100 Killer whales off Ireland and Scotland

The Irish Naval Service have reported an unprecedented feeding aggregation of Killer whales in offshore waters off northwest Ireland.

Japanese whaling factory ship found by Sea Shepherd

After a 26-day pursuit covering over 4,000 miles, the Steve Irwin caught up with the Nisshin Maru at 1800 hours on January 25th. Unfortunately, the Japanese whaling fleet appears to have just begun their illegal whaling operations. There is a whale presently being butchered on the deck.

Humpback travels from Brazil to Madagascar – Breaks whale distance record

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Four dolphins kept in swimming pool in Egypt

Four dolphins have been found in appalling conditions in a swimming pool in Hurghada, Egypt.

Whale watching industry should pay whalers to stop whaling

Conservationists would save more whales from the harpoon if the whale-watching public and industry were willing to pay a levy that could be used to persuade those countries currently engaged in whaling to stop.

Sperm whale sighting off Torbay, South Devon

Observers were surprised to see a large whale very close to the shore off Torbay in South Devon. It was identified as a Sperm whale, the largest of all the toothed whales.

Norwegian whaler filmed taking an age to kill a Minke whale

World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has released footage showing a Minke whale suffering for more than 20 minutes - and potentially 2 hours - after being shot by an exploding harpoon.

Mediterranean Gray whale sighted off Barcelona

The gray whale we reported on three weeks ago off the Israeli coast has now been re-sighted off the eastern Spanish coast.

Sea Shepherd will not compromise on whaling in Southern Ocean

Killer whales are probably several different species

Scientists report finding strong genetic evidence supporting the theory that there are several species of killer whales in the world's oceans.

IWC proposal will allow commercial whaling in Antarctic Ocean

A new proposal announced by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) would, if adopted, for the first time in 25 years, endorse the killing of whales in their most precious feeding grounds, the Southern Ocean.

Huge Fin whale strands in Cornwall

The body of a huge whale has been found on the north coast of Cornwall; The Cornwall Wildlife Trust believes it to be a Fin whale, which had been reported floating close to the shore off Pendeen.

Sea Shepherd vessel sinks after 'collision' with Japanese whaling ship

The Sea Shepherd Society claims that the Japanese security ship Shonan Maru No. 2 deliberately rammed the Ady Gil and caused catastrophic damage to the Sea Shepherd catamaran.

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UK wildlife photography competition - 2009 - results

Successful wildlife and wilderness photography does not necessarily involve long flights and equally long immigration queues. The inaugural Wildlife Extra UK wildlife photography competition is not only a fabulous example of just how beautiful the British Isles are, but also that it does not need a fat pay cheque to seduce talented photographers into wanting their work displayed. There are no remote cameras involved (yes, that is a dig) and no ludicrous Photoshop sorcery either, just a litany of belting images.

An end to Japanese whaling?

A major review of Japanese government spending could spell the end to whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Huge Blue whale killed by a ship in California.

A huge, 72 foot long, female Blue whale has been killed by a collision with a ships propeller off California.

One Humpback whale caught every 10 days in Queensland beach nets

Another Humpback Whale has been caught in a shark net off Australia's Queensland Coast, this is the 5th Humpback snared since September 2009.

First ever recorded Humpback in Thames found dead

. A 28ft (9.5m) Humpback whale has been found dead in the River Thames near the Dartford Bridge.

Albino Humpback spotted off Queensland

Not seen since 2009, Migaloo - bigger than a truck and iridescent white - has been spotted off Queensland's Fraser Island.

Sri Lanka - The growing whale watching hotspot

Between 08 October 2008 and 13 April 2009 Blue whales were encountered 71 per cent of the time. The strike rate was even higher during the December to April period, peaking from January to April. During March and April Blue whales were recorded almost every day.

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Norway suspends whaling

Norwegian whalers have announced that they have suspended their whale season half way through their usual whaling season after killing around 350 Minke whales, less than 40% of the allotted of 885 whales.

Mekong dolphins on the brink of extinction

Pollution in the Mekong River has pushed the local population of Irrawaddy dolphins to the brink of extinction, according to a new WWF report.

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Possible new population of North Atlantic Right whales discovered off Greenland

The recordings in the Cape Farewell Ground raise the possibility that the eastern North Atlantic right whale population may still exist.

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Leucistic Elephant seal

Despite the recent claim by the BBC that a white elephant seal seen in 2008 on Marion Island was the first confirmed sighting of a leucistic elephant seal, one of our readers, Nancy Spruance, has sent us a photo of a leucistic Elephant seal that she saw on Prion Island, off the northeast coast of South Georgia, way back in November 2003.

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BP & Exxon ignore pleas to help worlds most endangered whales

BP and Exxon have continued ignoring requests to join consultations with an international scientific panel to work to protect the world's most endangered whales, threatened by oil and gas development around Sakhalin Island in Far East Russia.

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50 Sperm whales die after stranding in Tasmania

The Sperm whales, which were mostly mothers and calves, stranded on Perkins Island, a remote island off Tasmania's north-west corner.

First North Atlantic right whale sighting in Azores since 1888

On 5th January 2009 a North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) was seen 5 miles south of Faial Island in the Azores.

Blue whales sighted off Irish coast

Blue whales have been seen off the south west coast of Ireland for the first time in recorded history.

Unusual whale and dolphin wash up on the Scilly Isles

Two highly unusual marine mammals, a Sowerby's beaked whale and a Risso's dolphin, have been washed up on the western shores of the Isle of St Agnes within days of one another.

Adelaide dolphins learn to ‘Tailwalk’

A wild dolphin in Adelaide has been teaching other wild dolphins the art of ‘tailwalking', a behaviour which is extremely rare in the wild.

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Mass dolphin stranding in Cornwall - at least 26 dolphins dead

On Monday 9th June, 26 common dolphins stranded and died near St Mawes in Cornwall.

Is southern Sri Lanka the world's top spot for seeing blue and sperm whales?

The Blue whales off the coast of Sri Lanka.

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Click here to a selection of whale watching holidays with the Dolphin Connection

It is also possible to swim with whales, even orca (Click here to read about swimming with killer whales).

Ten top places to watch whales.

Rare White Killer Whale Spotted in Alaskan Waters

A very rare and unusual white kilelr whale has been photographed off the Aleutian Islands.

Yangtse River dolphin declared extinct

After an exhaustive search, the Baiji has been declared extinct. However just two weeks later a Baiji has been sighted, and filmed.

The latest update on the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Oceans.

A collision, 2 men lost at sea for 8 hours, an on-board fire and a tragic death.

The world's smallest cetacean is sinking towards a man-made extinction.

The Vaquita porpoise, the smallest cetacean, is found only in the Gulf of Carolina. The population numbers just 2-300, and is under threat from fishing nets.

Princess Cruise Lines pay $750,000 over the death of a Humpback whale in Alaska.

Princess Cruises agreed to pay out $750,000 in fines after one of it's ships was involved in the death of a pregnant Humpback.

Spate of Blue whale deaths off California

September 2007. Three Blue whales found dead in 2 weeks off California.

Iceland suspends Fin whaling due to lack of sales

WDCS (the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society) has learned that Iceland's fin whale hunt is to be postponed indefinitely and a number of workers at the Hvalur whaling company will lose their jobs in a move which reflects the slow demise of the industry in Iceland.