KC the Humpback and Others Return

A publication of Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)

KC the Humpback and Others Return


Cover Image:
A Sea Otters couple cuddling off Cortez Reef

The number of Transient Biggs Orca in our inside waters remains high with a number of family pods still joining up in their travels, play and feeding.

We’re pleased to say that our well known “local” Humpback BCY 0291, know as KC, which is short for Kelp Creature, has returned to some of his favourite Spring through Autumn foraging areas. We have monitored this whale from calf so it’s always a thrill to see him return having survived the vessel strike and last year’s entanglement. There are a few other Humpback Whales making appearances as they work their way around to some of the inlets.

Dolphins and Porpoise also made our list this issue as they still work to avoid the meat eating Orca, including going right into Cortez Bay. Rumour has it that some of the Northern Resident (fish eating) Orca have been seen near the top of Vancouver Island.

Last, but not least, the cutest in our report are the Sea Otters that also have returned to the upper Georgia Strait.

A reminder to all boaters and fishers: Please SLOW DOWN when you see whales. They can be spread out and seeing one in the distance is not a guarantee that there isn’t another whale, or more, closer to your path of travel. Please keep good watch as they can pop up unpredictably. For fishers, please make sure that your prawn and crab traps do not have floating line or loops as these are entanglement hazards. This year we have already had one vessel strike in Georgia Strait and a possible entanglement due to floating line.

Society News & Events

We will be at the Lund Shellfish Festival Saturday, May 26th in the Lund, BC harbour. Stop by and say hello if you’re in the area.

We appreciate and thank you for your kind donations. Donations Page

Real Time Monitoring Station Live Update:

Our Cetacean Web Camera YouTube Channel is live. We’re continueing to work on resolving transmission problems causing the intermittent bouncy images from the Beach Gardens Marina camera. Our second (backup) live stream mounted in Powell River appears when the Beach Gardens camera is down. We appreciate your patience.

Thank You to our Volunteers and Contributors!

Our team of online Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your sightings reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us? Updated Job Postings are in the works for 2018, so stay tuned.

Review our current Volunteer Job Postings

Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2018-011
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Fri May 18 2018
16:48 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs; T023s◦ playing, heading south 2 miles south of Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:45 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs; T023s◦ moving slowly, heading south approaching Grant Reefs. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:46 • 8 Biggs Orca heading south-west off Port Mellon, Howe Sound.
Hilary Buckley, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC
12:36 • est. 8 Biggs Orca heading south travelling at 6-8 knots down the west side of Hernando Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
11:25 • Biggs Orca angled toward Baker Passage, between Marina Reef and Cortez Reef, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:31 • 5 Biggs Orca heading north off Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. Being lazy.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Adventures
09:08 • Biggs Orca heading south now passing quarry below Van Anda, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Sighted on WOWs live web cam. Orca previously off Blubber Bay.
08:37 • Biggs Orca at Cortes Bay, Cortes Island, Malaspina Strait. Observed by Misty Isle (vessel). ▫ Second Hand
08:25 • Biggs Orca of the tip of Blubber Bay, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Thu May 17 2018
21:00 • est. 6+ Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading north heading to Thulin Passage, Malaspina Strait. Seen moving from north side of Savary Island to southern entrance of Thulin Passage. Two separate groups travelling together. Observed a few minutes of playing. ▫ Observed from Shore
Brian Voth, Lund, BC
20:54 • Biggs Orca travelling from Grant Reefs towards the Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait. Orca were heading in different directions.
16:58 • Biggs Orca at Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
15:25 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s;T002Cs◦ moving slowly, heading south 3 miles off northern Grant Reefs. ▫ Leaving the Scene
14:13 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s;T002Cs◦ milling, 3 miles south of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
13:50 • Biggs Orca 3-miles south of buoy at Sentry Shoal.
12:56 • Biggs Orca heading south-east due east of Ballenas Islands, Georgia Strait. Travelling at 3 knots.
Hilary Buckley, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC
10:54 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ moving slowly, heading south passing south end of Hernando Island and going towards Grants Reef, Georgia Strait. Orca were very sleepy. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:50 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ moving slowly, heading south 0.75-nm south of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Lots of double backing.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
07:06 • Biggs Orca heading south-west towards Mitlenatch Island from Baker Passage, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Wed May 16 2018
21:00 • 5 Biggs Orca heading south past Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
15:01 • Biggs Orca heading in at Clipper Point, Bute Inlet.
15:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s◦ heading north at Clipper Point. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:10 • 5 Biggs Orca moving quickly, from Fawn Bluff into Bute Inlet. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales heading from Fawn Bluff into Bute Inlet
Wed, 16 May 2018 – 3 items
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales heading from Fawn Bluff into Bute Inlet
Wed, 16 May 2018 – 3 items
12:28 • 3 Biggs Orca off Stuart Island mid channel, heading into Bute Inlet.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
Tue May 15 2018
16:00 • Biggs Orca heading east about 2 miles from Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
15:18 • Biggs Orca heading north between Mitlenatch Island and Salmon Point in the middle of Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:15 • Biggs Orca spread out and moving slowly, heading north approaching Miracle Beach Park, Georgia Strait. Split into different groups. ▫ Leaving the Scene
11:28 • Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading north about 0.75 miles off the shore of Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait. Lots of hunting activity.
10:57 • 15-20 Biggs Orca ◦T063 Chainsaw◦ hunting, heading north about 1 mile off Kitty Coleman Beach Park.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
Mon May 14 2018
16:55 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s◦ heading north between Quadra Island and mid Marina Island and Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. Angling towards Viner point, Read Island. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:48 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T018s; T019s◦ heading north 1 mile south of Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy angled at Francisco Point, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
About four Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales in Teakerne Arm
Mon, 14 May 2018 – 7 items
Stan Novotny, Eagle Eye Adventures
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
About four Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales in Teakerne Arm
Mon, 14 May 2018 – 7 items
Stan Novotny, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:45 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading north in front of Teakerne Arm in Lewis Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:05 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north off Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
15:05 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ off Junction Point, Cortes Island, Lewis Channel.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ moving slowly, heading south halfway between Junction Point and Joyce Point, Lewis Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
14:37 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ moving slowly, heading south south of Teakerne Arm, Lewis Channel.
13:25 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ almost abeam Joyce Point, Teakerne Arm. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
13:00 • Biggs Orca off Cape Lazo, Comox, Georgia Strait. Spotted by Andrew on the cliff.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
12:59 • Biggs Orca off Hutt Island north of Bowen Island, Collingwood Channel.
Hilary Buckley, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC
12:28 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ moving slowly, headed into Teakerne Arm.
12:15 • 4 Biggs Orca in Teakerne Arm. ▫ Second Hand
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
12:01 • Biggs Orca off Cape Lazo straight out from the boat ramp at Point Holmes, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
11:02 • Biggs Orca near Sandy (Tree) Island north of Denman Island, Georgia Strait. Heading out to sea.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
10:51 • Biggs Orca heading north by Squirrel Cove, Cortes Island, Lewis Channel. ▫ Second Hand
10:00 • est. 2-3 Biggs Orca heading west off the bellbuoy at Comox Bar, Baynes Sound.
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive
08:07 • 4 Biggs Orca heading east towards Jackson Bay on the mainland side in Sunderland Channel.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Sun May 13 2018
12:00 • 5 Biggs Orca circling prey, heading south-east near Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. We observed them circling a harbour seal, and thrashing and slapping their tail fin at the seal. This lasted for around 20-30 minutes. The seal finally did not surface again in the end. After a spy hop, the pod remained in the spot appearing to feed. A female was travelling a distance behind, and looked like she would catch up, but instead remained in one spot about 100 feet from the activity. She would stay at the surface almost motionless for minutes on end. You can see a clip of her with the shoreline in the background in the video I shared by email. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales heading south-east near Marina Reef
Sun, 13 May 2018 – 1 items
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters

Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales heading south-east near Marina Reef
Sun, 13 May 2018 – 1 items
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
Wed May 16 2018
20:45 • 1 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south between Lund and Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait. Saw 1 small Orca slowly moving back and forth between Lund and the south end of the Copeland Islands. This was unusual because we didn’t see any other Orca around. ▫ Observed from Shore
Brian Voth, Lund, BC
10:00 • Biggs Orca at Raza Island, Raza Passage. ▫ Second Hand
09:30 • Biggs Orca near Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Tue May 15 2018
10:37 • Biggs Orca off Bates Beach, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
HUMPBACK WHALES
Fri May 18 2018
15:22 • Humpback Whales in 9 Foot Bay across from Okisollo Channel, Discovery Passage.
15:01 • Humpback Whales in Blackney Passage, Blackfish Sound. Seen from a distance.
Thu May 17 2018
16:46 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south just north of Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
15:29 • 1 Humpback Whales at the west end of Hole in the Wall. Trying to exit the channel against the current. It will be there a while.
14:42 • 1 Humpback Whales heading west at the east end of Hole in the Wall.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
Wed May 16 2018
15:44 • 1 Humpback Whales at Francisco Point, Sutil Channel. One quick up and down.
14:12 • 2 Humpback Whales 100 ft from shore at Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
10:34 • Humpback Whales going towards Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
10:25 • 2 Humpback Whales between Viner Point and Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel. Pointed at Subtle Island.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
Tue May 15 2018
19:13 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, off the light at Blubber Bay, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. All I saw was an enormous splash. ▫ Observed from Shore
17:20 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, heading south near the north end of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. It was spotted by husband who was on the Texada Island ferry. ▫ Second Hand
Deidre Braak, Texada Island, BC
16:05 • Humpback Whales bucking tide, heading north just north of Grouse Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:48 • Humpback Whales by the Campbell River Cruiseship Dock, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:41 • Humpback Whales passed the Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. Close to shore.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:12 • Humpback Whales heading north off the Campbell River Fishing Pier, Discovery Passage. Report from a local. ▫ Second Hand
12:30 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ foraging, off Howe Island, Nodales Channel.
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale, BCY0291 KC, off of Howe Island
Tue, 15 May 2018 – 1 items
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale, BCY0291 KC, off of Howe Island
Tue, 15 May 2018 – 1 items
09:17 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south at the south end of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
08:40 • 1 Humpback Whales heading east off East Thurlow Island across from Howe Island in Nodales Channel.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
08:29 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north passing Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait. Heading towards Powell River.
Bill Taylor, Powell River, BC
08:26 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south off Jimmy Judd Island, Yuculta Rapids. Heading towards Calm Channel. ▫ Second Hand
Mon May 14 2018
15:04 • 2 Humpback Whales at the north tip of Cortes Island, Calm Channel.
13:04 • 1 Humpback Whales between Raza Island and South Rendezvous Island, Calm Channel. Another Humpback.
12:59 • 1 Humpback Whales off Pasley Island, Howe Sound, Collingwood Channel.
Hilary Buckley, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC
12:44 • est. 2+ Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south between Raza Island and North Rendezvous Island, Calm Channel.
11:51 • Humpback Whales between Race Point and Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:15 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south just south of Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
10:15 • 1 Humpback Whales on Vancouver Island side in Seymour Narrows.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:40 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south in Seymour Narrows. Just caught the fluke going by; seems to be moving against the current.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Fri May 18 2018
09:24 • PWS Dolphins foraging, at Hall Point, Nodales Channel.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
Thu May 17 2018
15:35 • PWS Dolphins moving quickly, heading west off Bear Bight, Johnstone Strait.
13:41 • PWS Dolphins between Ripple Shoal and Helmcken Island, Johnstone Strait. Large group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Wed May 16 2018
16:35 • est. 10 PWS Dolphins heading south off 45 Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Tue May 15 2018
15:40 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins heading north off Cape Mudge in the middle of Discovery Passage.
Elvis Chikite, Pacific Pro Dive
Mon May 14 2018
17:18 • PWS Dolphins heading north off Plumper Bay, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins off of Cortes Bay
Mon, 14 May 2018 – 2 items
Vic Gladish, Quathiaski Cove, BC

Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins off of Cortes Bay
Mon, 14 May 2018 – 2 items
Vic Gladish, Quathiaski Cove, BC
17:06 • PWS Dolphins heading north just south of Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. Small group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
16:21 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins moving quickly, heading south off the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:22 • 20 PWS Dolphins moving slowly, heading north 100 metres offshore just north of Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
11:15 • PWS Dolphins right in front of Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:00 • 20 PWS Dolphins heading north off Elk Point, Discovery Passage.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:57 • PWS Dolphins heading west off Vansittart Point, Johnstone Strait.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
09:30 • PWS Dolphins moving quickly, heading north just north of Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. Another small group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
09:20 • PWS Dolphins heading north swimming close to Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. Small group.
Heather Harbord, Powell River, BC
08:57 • PWS Dolphins off Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait. Small group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
07:56 • PWS Dolphins south of Broken Islands, Johnstone Strait.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
04:00 • est. 8-10 PWS Dolphins foraging, in Cortes Bay, Cortes Island, Malaspina Strait. We first saw this small pod enter Cortes Bay at 1600 as we were leaving the bay by boat. When we returned at 1745 the pod was very active moving about the bay, mostly near and north of the Govt dock. They were very focussed on their feeding and pursuing activity. We were back at the dock at dusk, 2130, and the PWS dolphins were still active in the west end of Cortes Bay and near enough to us on the dock to hear their breathing sounds. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Vic Gladish, Quathiaski Cove, BC
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Mon May 14 2018
–:– • 12-15 Harbour Porpoise about 1-km west of the pier at Roberts Creek, Georgia Strait. Some in groups of 3-5, others loners. All seem to be feeding. Lots of baitfish around.
Geordie Harrower, Sechelt, BC
Harbour Porpoise
About 12 to 15 Harbour Porpoises west of the pier at Roberts Creek
Mon, 14 May 2018 – 1 items
https://youtu.be/BOuDwLpMrQI

Harbour Porpoise
About 12 to 15 Harbour Porpoises west of the pier at Roberts Creek
Mon, 14 May 2018 – 1 items
https://youtu.be/BOuDwLpMrQI
SEA OTTERS
Mon May 14 2018
15:40 • 1 Sea Otters between Mitlenatch Island and red can at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:36 • 2 Sea Otters 3/4 mile off the red can at Cortez Reef heading toward Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
Sea Otters
Sea Otters off from the red can at Cortez Reef
Mon, 14 May 2018 – 6 items
Sea Otters
Sea Otters off from the red can at Cortez Reef
Mon, 14 May 2018 – 6 items
SPECIES UNSURE
Thu May 10 2018
17:00 • 1 Species Unsure moving slowly, heading north-east in Departure Bay off Jesse Island, Nanaimo Harbour. At least one large whale with short triangular dorsal fin cruising along shoreline between Jesse Island and Vancouver Island in Departure Bay. Surfacing every 50 meters or so. ▫ Observed from Shore
No Name Provided,

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The Magazine
REGIONAL
Biggs Orcas not so Transient Anymore
Orcazine.com
… in less than 4 decades the way that we value Transients has changed appreciably. This is a direct result of what we have learned from the long-term studies on this population initiated by Mike Bigg nearly half a century ago. Interestingly, the animals that he initially called Transients are now more common and seemingly "resident" than Resident orcas along some parts of the coast ……
read on

Suburban Wild: Celebrating our Salish Sea neighbours
Oak Bay News
The plankton-eating herring have spawned, the eggs laid in their millions in March and April off Vancouver Island’s shores. Of every few thousand laid, one will survive to adulthood. No wonder each female must lay up to 40,000 at a time, emitting the roe into kelp and eelgrass to meet the male sperm (milt). A formidable array of predators await the juveniles: gulls, cormorants and other diving birds, salmon, humpbacks, seals, and of course humans….
read on

Entangled humpback whale washes up dead in Washington state
Global News, BC
Biologists are raising concerns after a young humpback whale was found dead just south of Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula.
John Calambokidis with the Cascadia Research Collective said the one-to-two-year-old female was first spotted Friday but washed up in Ocean Shores on Sunday.
He said a necropsy suggested the whale died after becoming entangled in crab fishing gear.
The Cascadia Research Collective says at least five whales have been reported entangled on the West Coast in the last month.
"Overall along the West Coast we’ve seen an uptick in entanglement-related death that spiked in 2015 and has remained elevated for the last few years," Calambokidis told Global News.
"For the last four weeks this is now the second humpback whale that we’ve had entangled and we’ve had three other grey whales."
Calambokidis said those numbers are likely a severe underestimation, as the majority of entanglements are unseen or unreported….
read on

WEST COAST
The Whale That Dines Alone
Halkai Magazine, BC
In the summer of 2012, Michelle Fournet had a dream job-studying humpback whales in Southeast Alaska’s Frederick Sound. The Oregon State University graduate student spent long days in a boat listening for the whales through underwater microphones and watching for them from a lighthouse. One day on the water, a whale’s call blasted through Fournet’s headphones. Simultaneously, a ring of bubbles appeared on the water’s surface about 50 meters away from her boat. When the call stopped, a humpback whale burst through the center of the bubbles, gulping down fish….
read on

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Canada moves to close 6 fishing areas after North Atlantic Right Whales spotted in the region
Global News, BC
The closures are part of the new measures Canada announced in April which are designed to protect the endangered species of whales – 18 of which were killed in Canadian and U.S. waters in 2017.

The closures, which are meant to respond to sightings of the whales, will shut down the zones for a minimum of 15 days. However, the statement from LebLanc, says the closures will be in effect until further notice….
read on

New population of genetically distinct Blue Whales discovered in New Zealand
Independant, UK

A new population of at least 700 blue whales has been found living between the North and South Islands of New Zealand in an area under pressure from mining and oil and gas exploration.

The gigantic marine mammals are genetically distinct from whales found in the neighbouring Pacific and Antarctic Oceans, suggesting they are a separate group that lives permanently in the region.

While they are not as large as their Antarctic cousins, the New Zealand population can still reach lengths of around 22 metres….
read on

Something killed a lot of sperm whales in the past-and it wasn’t whalers
Science, US
Sperm whales are a genetic puzzle. The deep-diving, squid-eating giants that inspired Moby Dick are found in every ocean, where they can mate with partners from around the world; as such, they should be quite genetically diverse. Yet, their genetic diversity is actually very low, hinting that something killed a lot of them off in the past. And that something wasn’t whalers….
read on

Dolphins are breaking into nets to steal fish thanks to overfishing
treehugger, US
A new study found that dolphins in northern Cyprus have gone straight up outlaw on the situation. Fishing nets are six times more likely to get broken when there are dolphins in the area, found the researchers.

"It seems that some dolphins may be actively seeking nets as a way to get food," explained Robin Snape, a University of Exeter scientist who led the study….
read on

Analysis of ancient Baleen Whale skulls showed that the ancient whale had teeth and gums
Week Facts, US

Analysis of ancient skulls showed that the ancient whale had teeth and gums. This discovery shows that the friendly animals are once ferocious predators.

The whale skull discovered 34 million years ago from Antarctica indicates that baleens have acquired their cetaceans through a complex and gradual evolutionary process. It was previously thought that these animals developed their baleens in a more direct way….
read on

Rare attacks by dolphins on porpoises photographed
BBC News
Wildlife photographers have recorded two separate attacks by bottlenose dolphins on harbour porpoises in the Moray Firth.

The incidents from earlier this month happened close to shore at Chanonry Point on the Black Isle.

Researchers at Sea Watch Foundation said such attacks are rare, and the cause of the aggressive behaviour had still to be fully understood….
read on

Australian Whale-watching season gets off to early start as humpback whale population soars
ABC News, AU
Whale-watching season for tourism operators such as the Sunshine Coast’s Whale One traditionally begins on the first weekend in June.

Southern Cross University Marine Ecology Research Centre founding director Peter Harrison said whales were moving earlier because their numbers had grown so large.

This season, about 33,000 whales are expected to make the 5,000km migration north from the Antarctic to Queensland’s warm tropical waters….
read on

The crime scene investigators solving dolphin deaths
BBC Future, UK
In a white-tiled lab at London Zoo, just across the street from the giraffes, two investigators are slowly and painstakingly dissecting a porpoise.

Rescue workers recovered the stranded animal on a beach in Somerset a week before. It was maimed by brutal red gashes – from a boat’s propeller, they thought.

Investigators Rob Deaville and Matt Perkins are not so sure. Over the next two hours, they will try to uncover what killed this particular porpoise. They will also look for clues to a much bigger puzzle, one that involves all of marine life, answering questions like: what is the state of our oceans? What are the biggest threats? And what can we as humans do to help?…
read on

WATCH: Humpback whales feeding massive pods of dolphins off the coast of Cork
Breaking News, IE
Whale watching trips on-board "Radiance" are never a disappointment and Friday was no exception. The waters off west Cork were ALIVE! We were lucky to encounter not one but four to eight humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), countless minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and literally hundreds of short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis). What were they all doing here you might ask? Well they are foraging.

Huge bait balls of tiny fish attract an array of marine wildlife; in addition we have seen a diverse range of seabirds, such as skuas, northern gannets…
read on

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