Posts by George Berry
Research shows great white sharks will avoid orca encounters
New research from scientists in the US has revealed that great white sharks will leave their feeding grounds to avoid contact with orcas (killer whales). While this avoidance behaviour had been observed on individual occasions, this is the first time it has been studied over a long period of time to see if it was…
Read MoreUS authorities support proposal for Makah gray whale hunt
Federal authorities in the United States have put forward a proposal that would allow the Makah, a Native American tribe, to resume the hunting of gray whales in Washington State. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) made the announcement on Thursday. Under the proposal, the Makah would be allowed to kill one whale in…
Read MoreFossil of prehistoric four-legged whale discovered in Peru
Scientists have unearthed the fossil of a 43-million-year-old whale in Peru, which was adapted to living both on land and in water. The mammal is thought to have been around four metres (13 feet) long and had four legs, webbed feet and hooves as well as a tail. The discovery adds further light to our…
Read MoreShepherd’s beaked whale filmed underwater for the first time
A rarely seen species of beaked whale has been filmed underwater for the first time. Two Shepherd’s beaked whales were observed together on video footage obtained via a camera deployed off the coast of Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha, in the South Atlantic. It was the first sighting of the species here since 2002 and…
Read MoreRemembering our friend Jo Toole
All of us here at WDC were deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Jo’s death in last Sunday’s air crash near Addis Ababa. Many of us had had the pleasure and privilege of working with Jo over many years and it is hard to think of anyone who better epitomises the concept of ‘making…
Read MorePreparations for beluga whale move to Iceland continue
Ahead of the relocation of Little White and Little Grey to the world’s first open water sanctuary for beluga whales this April, yesterday we gave international media the opportunity to discover how this epic 6,000 mile journey will be delivered to plan and also speak to some of the expert team involved in making this…
Read MoreWhale culture should play a part in their conservation says new international study
An international group of researchers working on a wide range of species, including whales, argues that cultural knowledge of these creatures needs to be taken into consideration when planning international conservation efforts and laws. A paper published in leading journal Science (Tuesday 26 February) makes a compelling case that growing scientific evidence on social learning, which can…
Read MoreUk trade talks with New Zealand should raise concerns about endangered dolphins
WDC is leading a coalition of organisations urging the UK government to use its trade negotiations with New Zealand to discuss the appalling numbers of Māui and Hector’s dolphins dying in fishing nets (as ‘bycatch’). In a letter to the UK government, WDC urges that this matter is discussed as a matter of urgency during…
Read MoreMultiple belugas moved in US marine parks
Over the last month, there has been a flurry of movement between marine parks in the U.S. as several captive-held belugas have been shifted among facilities. This appears to be an attempt to mix up males and females and advance captive breeding efforts, after a 2015 court decision denied the Georgia Aquarium and other parks permission to import 18…
Read MoreIceland to kill over two thousand fin and minke whales
The Icelandic fisheries minister has announced a new whaling quota, which will allow Icelandic whalers to kill over two thousand fin and minke whales over a five year period. This move comes at a time when public support for whaling within Iceland is falling and local demand for whale meat is negligible. This announcement appears to confirm the influence of wealthy businessman…
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