Nearly 500 whales die in New Zealand
The number of pilot whales that have died following a mass stranding in New Zealand has reached nearly 500. Officials are putting the current number of deaths at 477, which occurred on two remote beaches on the Chatham Islands, around 500 miles east of New Zealand’s main islands. The remote location hindered attempts to refloat…
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Beluga whale in River Seine dies after rescue attempt
A beluga whale that became trapped in the River Seine in France has sadly had to be euthanised after developing breathing difficulties during rescue efforts. The whale had entered the river several days ago after entering from the English Channel and swum 80 miles upstream before its progress was blocked by a lock. Experts had…
Read MoreRussian naval exercises off Irish coast threaten whales and dolphins
Military exercises planned by the Russian navy 150 miles off the south-west coast of Ireland next month raise the very real prospect of whales and dolphins washing up dead on Irish beaches, if active sonar are involved. This part of the ocean is known to be important for marine mammals, and particularly for vulnerable beaked…
Read MoreGood news for campaign to protect whales and dolphins from wartime bombs
The Government has recommended that unexploded bombs located in the sea should be detonated quietly to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises. The announcement comes following a long running campaign championed by actress Joanna Lumley that WDC has supported. The Stop Sea Blasts campaign called for a change in the way unexploded war munitions found in the…
Read MoreWDC joins US network to help rescue whales and dolphins
Goods news for whales and dolphins in the US. WDC’s team there has officially joined the Marine Mammal Stranding Network and is now authorised to respond to strandings along a section of the Massachusetts coastline, helping efforts to save marine mammals that may get into difficulties and wash up on the shoreline there. Thousands of…
Read MoreDolphin who survived severe sunburn has baby
Spirtle, the dolphin who made the headlines after being badly sunburned while she was stranded in Scotland in 2016 has now given birth to a calf. Spirtle is a bottlenose dolphin and part of the resident population living in the waters around the Moray Firth. She was close to death after spending 24 hours stuck…
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