Whales

Holly, who declined to give her last name, with the group Miami Seaquarium Weekly Demos, demonstrates after the recent death of a captive orca, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, outside the Miami Seaquarium in Key Biscayne, Fla. Lolita, an orca whale held captive for more than a half-century, died Friday at the Miami Seaquarium as caregivers prepared to move her from the theme park in the near future. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Mourners gather to remember the last captive southern resident orca

Tokitae, also known as Lolita, died at the Miami Seaquarium on Friday afternoon

 

(Perucetus colossus is reconstructed in a costal habitat: Alberto Gennari/Nature via AP)

The heaviest animal ever may be this ancient whale found in the Peruvian desert

There could be a new contender for heaviest animal to ever live.…

 

This still image from video provided by Robert Addie shows three humpback whales leaping from the water off the coast of Cape Cod, Mass., on Monday, July 24, 2023. Robert Addie, celebrating his birthday on the ocean with his three daughters, captured video of the three humpback whales leaping from the water in near perfect unison. (Robert Addie via AP)

VIDEO: 3 humpbacks jump in unison, in a family birthday surprise

‘It was such an uplifting thing to see, just incredible’

 

In this photo provided by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, a pod of long-finned pilot whales gather closely near Cheynes Beach east of Albany, Australia, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Nearly 100 pilot whales stranded themselves on the beach in western Australia Tuesday, and about half had died by Wednesday morning, despite the efforts of wildlife experts and volunteers to save them. (DBCA via AP)

Volunteers working to save nearly 100 beached whales in Australia, but more than half have died

Volunteers worked frantically on a second day Wednesday to save dozens of…

In this photo provided by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, a pod of long-finned pilot whales gather closely near Cheynes Beach east of Albany, Australia, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Nearly 100 pilot whales stranded themselves on the beach in western Australia Tuesday, and about half had died by Wednesday morning, despite the efforts of wildlife experts and volunteers to save them. (DBCA via AP)
In this photo provided by Brian Williams, a whale approaches his father, Kevin Williams, while he was paddleboarding in Prince William Sound near Whittier on July 13. Williams survived the close encounter with a humpback whale, not even getting wet during a tense few seconds caught on camera by friends and family as a whale surfaced near him.

See how an Alaska paddleboarder escaped a close encounter with a humpback whale

An Alaska man on a paddleboard escaped a close encounter with a…

In this photo provided by Brian Williams, a whale approaches his father, Kevin Williams, while he was paddleboarding in Prince William Sound near Whittier on July 13. Williams survived the close encounter with a humpback whale, not even getting wet during a tense few seconds caught on camera by friends and family as a whale surfaced near him.
This handout photo issued by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) shows pilot whales in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, Sunday, July 16, 2023. A pod of 55 pilot whales have died after they were found washed ashore on a beach in Scotland in the worst mass whale stranding in the area, marine experts said Monday. Marine rescuers, the coast guard and police were called to Traigh Mhor beach on the Isle of Lewis in northwest Scotland after receiving reports that dozens of the mammals were in difficulty there early Sunday. (Cristina McAvoy/BDMLR via AP)

Pod of 55 pilot whales die after being stranded on a beach in Scotland

Whole pod may have followed a female whale onto the beach when she had problems giving birth

This handout photo issued by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) shows pilot whales in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, Sunday, July 16, 2023. A pod of 55 pilot whales have died after they were found washed ashore on a beach in Scotland in the worst mass whale stranding in the area, marine experts said Monday. Marine rescuers, the coast guard and police were called to Traigh Mhor beach on the Isle of Lewis in northwest Scotland after receiving reports that dozens of the mammals were in difficulty there early Sunday. (Cristina McAvoy/BDMLR via AP)
In this July 31, 2015, file photo, an orca whale breaches in view of Mount Baker, some 60 miles distant, in the Salish Sea in the San Juan Islands, Washington State. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elaine Thompson

Florida aquarium returning Lolita the orca to the Salish Sea after 53 years in tank

Lolita, 57, is part of the endangered southern resident killer whales pod

In this July 31, 2015, file photo, an orca whale breaches in view of Mount Baker, some 60 miles distant, in the Salish Sea in the San Juan Islands, Washington State. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elaine Thompson
FILE - Southern Resident killer whale J50 and her mother, J16, swim off the west coast of Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew, B.C. on Aug. 7, 2018. (Brian Gisborne/Fisheries and Oceans Canada via AP, File)

Researchers: Inbreeding a big problem for endangered orcas

Whales are so inbred that they are dying younger and their population is not recovering

FILE - Southern Resident killer whale J50 and her mother, J16, swim off the west coast of Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew, B.C. on Aug. 7, 2018. (Brian Gisborne/Fisheries and Oceans Canada via AP, File)
(Black Press Media Creative)

Hawaii whale dies with fishing nets, plastic bags in stomach

A whale that washed ashore in Hawaii over the weekend likely died…

(Black Press Media Creative)
In this photo released by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, a dead sperm whale lies in the shallow water at Lydgate Beach in Kauai County, Hawaii, on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. Scientists suspect the large sperm whale that washed ashore in Hawaii over the weekend may have died from an intestinal blockage because it ate large volumes of plastic, fishing nets, and other marine debris. (Daniel Dennison/Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via AP)

Hawaii whale dies with fishing nets, plastic bags in stomach

Enough foreign objects in the opening of the whale’s intestinal tract to block food

In this photo released by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, a dead sperm whale lies in the shallow water at Lydgate Beach in Kauai County, Hawaii, on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. Scientists suspect the large sperm whale that washed ashore in Hawaii over the weekend may have died from an intestinal blockage because it ate large volumes of plastic, fishing nets, and other marine debris. (Daniel Dennison/Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via AP)
Killer whales often come and visit Neroutsos Inlet near Port Alice. (Regan Hickling photo)

Eyewitnesses report rare killer whale attack on a humpback off B.C. coast

Researcher: about 60 whale-on-whale interactions on record, none resulting in a confirmed death

  • Feb 2, 2023
Killer whales often come and visit Neroutsos Inlet near Port Alice. (Regan Hickling photo)
DFO rescuing a young humpback whale from a dangerous entanglement. (DFO video screenshot)

VIDEO: Hogtied humpback rescued from dangerous entanglement off Vancouver Island

Exhausted whale freed near Port Hardy from gear wrapped around its tail and through its mouth

DFO rescuing a young humpback whale from a dangerous entanglement. (DFO video screenshot)
Whales in the Gulf Islands, a southern resident killer whale critical habitat, are shown in a handout photo. Toxic chemicals from toilet paper have been found in the bodies of British Columbia’s endangered orcas, according to a study conducted by marine scientists.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fisheries and Oceans Canada-Paul Cottrell **MANDATORY CREDIT**

Toilet paper toxin found in endangered killer whales, say B.C. researchers

Findings were published last month in the journal Environmental Science and Technology

Whales in the Gulf Islands, a southern resident killer whale critical habitat, are shown in a handout photo. Toxic chemicals from toilet paper have been found in the bodies of British Columbia’s endangered orcas, according to a study conducted by marine scientists.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fisheries and Oceans Canada-Paul Cottrell **MANDATORY CREDIT**
A Bigg’s killer whale preys on a minke whale in the waters off Washington State’s Smith Island in October 2022. (Courtesy of the Pacific Whale Watch Association)

278 days of killer whale sightings last year in the Salish Sea

Agencies document 1,066 protective interventions by whale-watching crews in 2022

A Bigg’s killer whale preys on a minke whale in the waters off Washington State’s Smith Island in October 2022. (Courtesy of the Pacific Whale Watch Association)
This Jan. 19, 2021 photo provided by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources shows a North Atlantic right whale mother and calf in waters near Wassaw Island, Ga. A scientist who studies the endangered North Atlantic right whales is cautiously optimistic after nine calves were spotted this season in the waters along the eastern coast.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Georgia Department of Natural Resources/NOAA Permit #20556 via AP

Birth of 9 calves sparks hope for endangered North Atlantic right whales

Research shows a downward trend in the number of females capable of breeding

This Jan. 19, 2021 photo provided by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources shows a North Atlantic right whale mother and calf in waters near Wassaw Island, Ga. A scientist who studies the endangered North Atlantic right whales is cautiously optimistic after nine calves were spotted this season in the waters along the eastern coast.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Georgia Department of Natural Resources/NOAA Permit #20556 via AP
Baby humpback whale playing just west of Portland Island in Juneau in 2021. (Credit: Kristin Stekoll)

Endangered wildlife committee keeps B.C’s humpback whales on the list

Population has grown, but risk remains

  • Dec 19, 2022
Baby humpback whale playing just west of Portland Island in Juneau in 2021. (Credit: Kristin Stekoll)
Ken Balcomb, 82, founder and longtime leader of the Center for Whale Research died Dec. 15. (Courtesy Center for Whale Research)

Orca community mourns death of legendary Washington whale researcher

Center for Whale Research founder and longtime leader Ken Balcomb died Dec. 15

Ken Balcomb, 82, founder and longtime leader of the Center for Whale Research died Dec. 15. (Courtesy Center for Whale Research)
BCZ0214, a new mom, spotted in the busy waters south of Victoria. (Joe Zelwietro photo – Humpback Whales of the Salish Sea/Facebook)

Humpback comeback: More whales spotted in Salish Sea this year than any other

‘The Salish Sea has become the whale equivalent of a busy school zone’

BCZ0214, a new mom, spotted in the busy waters south of Victoria. (Joe Zelwietro photo – Humpback Whales of the Salish Sea/Facebook)
An injured humpback whale swam from B.C. to Hawaii despite a significant injury. (Photo: supplied)

Severely injured humpback travels from B.C. to Hawaii

S-shaped curve in spine made tail almost immobile

An injured humpback whale swam from B.C. to Hawaii despite a significant injury. (Photo: supplied)
Two dogs are sick from eating the meat of a humpback whale carcass just south of Masset in Haida Gwaii. (Photo: supplied)

2 dogs in Haida Gwaii sick after eating meat from decaying humpback whale

DFO warns people to not ingest meat or let animals eat meat of dead marine animals

Two dogs are sick from eating the meat of a humpback whale carcass just south of Masset in Haida Gwaii. (Photo: supplied)