‘Extraordinary longevity’: great whales can live a lot longer than we thought – if we leave them alone

‘Extraordinary longevity’: great whales can live a lot longer than we thought – if we leave them alone

In Moby-Dick, Herman Melville’s epic novel of 1851, the author asks if whales would survive the remorseless human hunt. Yes, he says, as he foresees a future flooded world in which the whale would outlive us and “spout his frothed defiance to the skies”. Moby Dick was a grizzled old sperm whale that had miraculously […]

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Near-extinct North Atlantic right whales get a small population boost

Near-extinct North Atlantic right whales get a small population boost

The population of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale increased by five individuals, bringing the estimated total to 372 in 2023, according to an Oct. 22 report. The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) population has declined since 2011. However, the slight rise in recent years may signal some stability for these ocean giants, […]

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Unusually Large Number of Whales Spotted, Including Multiple Endangered Species, off Northeast U.S. Coasts

Unusually Large Number of Whales Spotted, Including Multiple Endangered Species, off Northeast U.S. Coasts

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported 161 sightings of whales last month, representing seven different whale species. The sightings, recorded on May 25, took place off the northeastern U.S. Coasts, near Martha’s Vineyard and southeast of Nantucket. According to NOAA, the sightings included an unusually high number of whale species, particularly endangered […]

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