Humpback whale rescued from shark net in Australia
A humpback whale and her calf have managed to escape after becoming entangled in a shark net off the coast of Queensland, Australia. In the southern hemisphere humpback whales spend the austral summer in Antarctica before migrating north during the winter months to breed and give birth in warmer waters. Their migration route takes them…
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Dolphins use coral to cure skin conditions
A new scientific report published this week suggests that dolphins may be using corals and sponges for medicinal purposes to help cure skin conditions. Researchers have been studying a population of 360 wild Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins living in the Red Sea since 2009. Over that time they have noticed that the dolphins spend a lot…
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River dolphins observed playing with anaconda
Researchers in Bolivia recorded an unusual interaction between local rivers dolphins and an anaconda snake last year in the Tijamuchi river. The two species would not normally interact but on this occasion a group of dolphins, some of which appeared to be juveniles, were seen carrying the snake through the water. At times the dolphins…
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New fossil gives insight into feeding habits of ancient orcas
New research by scientists suggests that orcas and false killer whales only evolved to feed on marine mammals within the last one million years. The two species are the only members of the 90 or so species of cetacean (whales, dolphins and porpoises) that are known to do this. Recent analysis of a 1.4 million…
Read MoreHumpback whale freed from rope entanglement by passing orcas
A strange incident involving a pod of orcas and an entangled humpback whale off the coast of western Australia has left experts scratching their heads. Observers from Whale Watch Western Australia captured drone footage of what appeared to be a number of orcas freeing a humpback whale from a discarded rope that had become wrapped…
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New claims over use of dolphins for military purposes
Reports from the Mediterranean claim that the Israeli military has been deploying dolphins in recent naval operations. Across the globe, the naval forces of several countries are known to use dolphins and other marine mammals for security purposes and other activities such as mine detection and retrieval of objects. WDC’s Policy manager Rob Lott condemned…
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