A remote beach in Tasmania, Australia has become the site of a heartbreaking wildlife crisis. Over the past two days, 157 false killer whales – large dolphins known for their orca-like build and high intelligence – were discovered beached near Arthur River. Sadly, only 90 remained alive when rescue teams arrived. The inaccessible location and […]
Tag: dolphins
90 Dolphins Stranded in Australia Are Being Euthanised. Here’s Why They Can’t Be Saved.
Wildlife rangers will Wednesday begin shooting 90 dolphins stranded on a remote Australian beach, saying the stressed creatures would be euthanised after attempts to refloat them failed. A pod of 157 dolphins from a poorly understood deep-sea species was found stranded Tuesday evening on an isolated beach in Australia‘s southern island of Tasmania. Tasmania’s environment […]
With Fewer Than 10 of These Animals Left, Can the Species Be Saved?
Swimming off the coast of Mexico in the Gulf of California live the few remaining vaquitas on earth. This endangered cetacean is not only the smallest porpoise species, but the most rare. Where there were once thousands of vaquitas swimming in the sea, today there may only be about 10 individuals remaining. The vaquita wasn’t […]
Why is this endangered dolphin being killed to make “love perfumes”? | Wild Targets
IQUITOS, Peru – The Plight of the Pink River Dolphin is a short documentary investigating the illegal exploitation of endangered pink river dolphins in the Amazon, driven by a myth about their magical properties. The film reveals how pusangas—perfumes made from dolphin oil and body parts—are sold in markets and online, despite the species being […]
As Oceans Warm, Predators Are Falling Out of Sync with Their Prey
For decades on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic coast, recreational anglers have braved the cold temperatures of late October and November to chase one of the region’s most iconic fish species, the striped bass. This season, just offshore of New Jersey and New York, the fall run was especially strong. “The amount of fish and [their size] […]
Otters among UK wildlife carrying toxic ‘forever chemicals’, analysis shows
Dolphins, otters, porpoises, fish and birds across the UK have been found to have toxic “forever chemicals” in their tissue and organs, analysis of official data has revealed. Manmade chemicals called PFAS, known as forever chemicals because they do not degrade, are used in a wide range of consumer products and industrial processes and some […]
‘They’re stuck’: Cape Cod seeing more whale, turtle and dolphin strandings
While Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is known as a popular vacation destination in the north-east US, it has built a reputation for an entirely different reason this year: animal strandings. Dolphins, whales, seals and turtles are turning up in large numbers on the beaches of the famous peninsula in a phenomenon that has experts scrambling to […]
Fentanyl Found in Dolphins Raises Environmental Concerns
A surprising discovery has highlighted a troubling link between human pharmaceuticals and marine life. Researchers at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi recently identified traces of fentanyl and other drugs in the blubber of bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, signaling a growing environmental issue. The finding came after a routine boating survey in September 2020 […]