Brazil’s former president, Jair Bolsonaro, is under investigation, this time for an unusual environmental offense—alleged harassment of a humpback whale during a jetski excursion on vacation. The incident reportedly took place off Brazil’s south-eastern coastline near São Sebastião in June and has sparked federal police interest. Bolsonaro, infamous for his anti-environmental policies during his four-year […]
Tag: Whale
Dominica set to open world’s first reserve centered around sperm whales
The world’s first marine reserve for sperm whales is set to open in the waters off the coast of Dominica, a tiny island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The reserve’s establishment is aimed at safeguarding a local population of a few hundred endangered sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) that are threatened by fishing gear entanglements, […]
The Life Cycle of Whales: What Happens When a Whale Dies?
Whales, the majestic giants of the ocean, have a unique life cycle that includes their inevitable death. When these magnificent creatures pass away, their fate is not the end of their story. This article delves into the fascinating journey of a whale’s remains post-death, exploring the processes of decomposition, scavenging, and the significant role they […]
Bowhead Whales Have the Longest Pregnancy for a Mammal in the Animal Kingdom
Whales, the majestic giants of the ocean, have long captured the fascination of humans. Yet, despite our curiosity, there remains an aura of mystery around these magnificent creatures. Among them, the bowhead whale stands out as a species that has managed to keep its secrets hidden from us, even as we nearly pushed it to […]
Incredible moment two whales breach just feet from paddleboarder at Pismo Beach in California
A paddleboarder in California caught a stunning moment on video when two whales breached right beside him. Bill Clements was paddling out in the Pismo Beach area of the Central Coast of California early on September 16 when he witnessed the incredible creatures surface. Throughout the morning, he had seen small fish jumping out of […]
A ‘whalecam’, seals v sharks and fish that play dead: it’s Planet Earth III
A detachable “whalecam”, remote underwater cameras operated from a director’s bedroom and a “drone ballet” are among the innovations that will be featured for the first time on David Attenborough’s Planet Earth III. Following the global success of 2016’s BBC’s Planet Earth II and its famous “snakes v iguanas” scene, the corporation’s natural history unit […]
As oceans warm, marine heat waves push deep beneath the surface, study shows
New research shows that marine heat waves last longer in deeper water, increasing the possibility of species displacement or mortality. Marine heat waves, defined as events where ocean temperatures rise to extreme levels and hold steady for at least five days, are becoming increasingly common as human-induced climate change fuels global warming. The ocean absorbs […]
How a huge new LNG plant spells ‘dire’ trouble for whales off Canada’s coast
On a quiet summer evening last month, the crew of the Northern Expedition spotted a dark shape surfacing from the water off Canada’s west coast. Earlier that day, crew on the passenger ferry had made a similar sighting, and only narrowly avoided striking the humpback whale by ordering the ferry’s powerful engines to be reversed. […]