Federal government reviewing endangered species status for humpback whalesSeptember 30th, 2009 Feds reviewing humpback whale endangered statusHONOLULU — The federal government is considering taking the humpback whale off the endangered species list in response to data showing the population of the massive marine mammal has been steadily growing in recent decades. Known for their acrobatic leaps from the sea and complex singing patterns, humpback whales were nearly hunted to extinction for their oil and meat by industrial-sized whaling ships well through the middle of the 20th century.
Blue whales forced to increase their 'singing' to cope with noise pollution from shipsSeptember 23rd, 2009 LONDON - A new research by scientists has determined that blue whales have had to increase their 'singing' to cope with noise pollution from ships. Man-made noise such as ships' engines has caused hearing loss in whales.
Killer whales have to raise their voices to be heard over ship noiseSeptember 11th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new research has determined that killer whales have to raise their voices to be heard over ship noise, and the effort may be wearing the whales out as they try to find food amid dwindling numbers of salmon. According to a report in National Geographic News, scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) carried out the research.
Soviet whaling secretly decimated humpback whale populationSeptember 2nd, 2009 SYDNEY - Secret Soviet whaling between 1947 and 1973 wiped out some humpback whale population in the Pacific, according to a new study. Wally Franklin, doctoral student at the Sydney based Southern Cross University's Whale Research Centre and co-director of The Oceania Project, co-authored the paper.
Bowhead whales sing love songs in different voicesAugust 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Hydrophones have revealed that bowhead whales can sing in different voices to attract a mate and thereby ensure the species' survival. This is probably because global warming has opened up the Northwest Passage in 125,000 years, enabling the 100 tonne bowhead whales of the northern Pacific to reach Disko Bay in Greenland to mate with other whales.
Watching whales far more profitable than killing themJuly 7th, 2009 LONDON - a report published by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has suggested that watching whales is far more profitable than eating them. According to New Scientist, the report found that revenues from whale watching in 2008 reached 2.1 billion dollars, which is double the amount earned a decade ago.
Whaling talks ponder compromise deal but breakthrough said to be no closerJune 22nd, 2009 Whaling talks said stuck on compromise dealLISBON, Portugal — The International Whaling Commission on Monday began discussing a possible compromise deal that would reduce the number of whales killed each year. However, environmental groups expressed little hope of a breakthrough in the two-decade dispute at the start of IWC's weeklong annual meeting in Portugal's Madeira islands.
Australia, New Zealand plan non-lethal study of Antarctic whales in challenge to JapanJune 18th, 2009 Australia, NZ to study Antarctic whalesWELLINGTON, New Zealand — Australia and New Zealand announced Thursday a non-lethal whale research expedition to the Antarctic, a direct challenge to Japan's research program that kills up to 1,000 whales a year. The six-week expedition, to set sail in a New Zealand ship early next year, will prove that whales can be studied without killing them, the two governments said in a joint statement.
Mum sperm whales have babysitters when they go food shopping!June 15th, 2009 LONDON - Biologists studying sperm whales in the North Atlantic have found that mothers use organised babysitting sessions so they can go hunting for food. Scientists at the University of St Andrews, Durham University and Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, have discovered that females share responsibility for the younger members of a pod by establishing networks of carers.he whales are specially adapted to allow them to make long, deep dives.
Babysitting whales look after calves while mums go snackingJune 1st, 2009 LONDON - In a new research, scientists have discovered that there are babysitters in whale populations as well, which look after the young ones of mother whales while they go hunt for food. According to a report in New Scientist, Shane Gero of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, and colleagues tracked two populations of sperm whales in the Caribbean and Sargasso seas to see what happened when mother whales dived for food.
Blue whale 'heard' singing off New York coastMay 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Acoustic experts confirmed tracking a singing blue whale 112 km off the Long Island and New York City early this year, even as the second one was heard singing in the far distance. These endangered blue whales are the largest animals ever to have lived on this planet, and their voices can travel across an ocean.
Endangered right whales found where there were noneMay 21st, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have documented the presence of endangered North Atlantic right whales with the help of underwater hydrophones that can pick up sounds from hundreds of kilometres away. The discovery is particularly important because it is in an area where these whales were thought to be extinct and one that may be opened to shipping if the melting of polar ice continues, as expected, said researchers.
Endangered whales found where presumed extinctMay 21st, 2009 WASHINGTON - A team of scientists, using a system of underwater hydrophones that can record sounds from hundreds of miles away, has documented the presence of endangered North Atlantic right whales in an area they were thought to be extinct. The scientists are from the Oregon State University (OSU) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Obama seeks education budget cuts, but won't harpoon oft-attacked whaling education programMay 9th, 2009 Obama won't harpoon whaling educationWASHINGTON — Is President Barack Obama afraid of facing down Moby Dick?
In his budget proposal for 2010, Obama seeks several education cuts but spares a $9 million program to promote the history of whaling and trade in Massachusetts, which Captain Ahab departed from in search of the great white whale in Herman Melville's acclaimed novel. Museums in Alaska and Hawaii get some of the money, too, because of trading relationships that developed over two centuries of trade linking natives with coastal towns of Massachusetts.
Whales teach calves where to look for foodFebruary 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Young 'right whales' learn from their mothers where to eat, prompting concerns among biologists about their ability to find new places to feed if changing climate disrupts their traditional dining areas. 'A primary concern is, what are whales going to do with global warming, which may change the location and abundance of their prey?' asked Vicky Rowntree, research associate professor of biology and a co-author of the new study at Utah University.
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