Deep in a sea cave in Greece’s northern Sporades, a bulky shape moves in the gloom. Someone on the boat bobbing at a distance offshore passes round a pair of binoculars and yes! – there it is. It’s a huge Mediterranean monk seal, one of the world’s rarest marine mammals , which at up to […]
Tag: marine mammals
Lethal dose of plastic for seabirds and marine animals ‘much smaller than expected’
New research has found that even small amounts of plastic can be deadly to seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals. While previous research has established that plastic can lead to mortality in many species, this new study identifies the types and amounts of plastic that pose the greatest danger, and estimates how likely an animal […]
“I’ve been thinking about this possibility for 15 years”: Killer whale experts make new discovery off North American coast
West Coast transient killer whales have long fascinated marine scientists with their impressive mammal-hunting techniques. Now, new research by the University of British Columbia (UBC) is shedding more light on these large ocean predators, confirming them to be two distinct subpopulations: inner and outer coast transients. Analysing 16 years of data covering more than 2,200 […]
Baby sea otter named Caterpillar rescued off central California coast
It was a foggy October afternoon on the central California coast when the Marine Mammal Center got a call on their public hotline: there were distressed cries coming from the frigid waters in Morro Bay. The center’s experts were able to determine that the calls – which sounded almost like a human baby screeching – […]
Twelve whales have been tangled in shark nets off Queensland’s coast so far this year. Here’s why
Scientists say a flourishing whale population that is swimming closer to shore and into the path of shark nets is contributing to the 50% increase in entanglements off Queensland’s coast this year. Nine entanglements involving 12 whales have already occurred this year, compared with six on average, many off the Sunshine Coast. Eight whales were […]
Watch terrifying, close up footage of a great white shark stalking a lone, vulnerable spear fisherman deep in the ocean
Great white sharks can reach lengths of up to 6.4 m and weigh as much as 2,041 kg. This powerful swimmer can travel long distances with ease but is also capable of short bursts of speed, reaching up to around 50 kph – making any encounter in the water a terrifying prospect. The great white shark is a […]
SC man punished for trafficking sperm whale parts, prosecutor says
A South Carolina man was punished for trafficking sperm whale parts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Tuesday in a news release. From September 2021 to September 2024, 69-year-old St. Helena resident Lauren DeLoach violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Lacey Act, according to the release. DeLoach illegally imported, sold and possessed sperm whale […]
Another dolphin dies at troubled Miami Seaquarium, adding to deaths, welfare concerns
Another dolphin has died at the Miami Seaquarium, an embattled marine park at the center of ongoing controversy for repeated animal safety violations and “suffering,” inspection violations, bankruptcy and an eviction battle. The Seaquarium, owned by the MS Leisure Company, under which subsidiary The Dolphin Company operates, has been the subject of criticism and regular […]