Survey finds after 2 years of stability, number of Cook Inlet beluga whales declining

October 10th, 2009 Dead beluga found in Alaska waters was pregnantANCHORAGE, Alaska — A scientist says a dead beluga whale found in the waters off downtown Anchorage was pregnant. Pathologists are still studying tissue samples they collected from the dead whale Friday.

October 6th, 2009 Study: Endangered AK beluga whale group decliningANCHORAGE, Alaska — A government study found that a group of endangered beluga whales in Alaska is declining, raising concern that bolstered protection for the animals is not coming quickly enough. The downward trend comes after two years where numbers for the Cook Inlet belugas appeared to have stabilized.

September 18th, 2009 Disney studio chief Dick Cook to step downBURBANK, Calif. — Walt Disney Co.

September 16th, 2009 BUENOS AIRES - Forty-two pilot whales beached themselves and died in a small bay in the southern Argentine province of Chubut, a marine expert has said. "We counted 42 dead pilot whales in an area that's not much more than a small bay," Centro Nacional Patagonico researcher Enrique Crespo said.

September 9th, 2009 Fed survey: most of US in economic healing modeWASHINGTON — A new government survey finds the vast majority of the country reporting economic activity is stabilizing or improving, as the worst recession since the 1930s appears to be over. The Federal Reserve's snapshot of economic conditions backs predictions by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and most other analysts that the economy has started to grow again in the current quarter.

September 8th, 2009 US economy loses top spot in poll to SwissGENEVA — The United States has lost its place as the world's most competitive economy, according to a survey released Tuesday, falling behind Switzerland mainly because of the financial crisis and accumulated fiscal deficits. The survey, which combines opinions of over 13,000 business executives with economic statistics and government regulations, put Switzerland in first place and dropped the U.S.

September 8th, 2009 Federal survey finds coal ash sites in 35 statesWASHINGTON — The toxic leftovers from burning coal for power are sitting in nearly 600 sites in 35 states, according to a federal survey released Tuesday. Spills have occurred at 34 of those sites over the last decade.

August 25th, 2009 Stranded belugas in Alaska swim freeANCHORAGE, Alaska — About 20 beluga whales that became stranded in mud during a low tide over the weekend have apparently freed themselves, bringing relief to biologists who have been closely monitoring their plight. Two federal biologists flew over the area Monday and found no sign of stranded or dead whales, but quite a few of the whales swimming freely.

August 10th, 2009 Failed rescue: 2 beached whales die off Fla. shoreHOLLYWOOD, Fla.

July 14th, 2009 Alaska terminal near volcano to resume moving oilANCHORAGE, Alaska — An oil pipeline company plans to resume shipments from its terminal near the base of an Alaskan volcano that has sent hot boulders, huge ice chunks and mud flowing toward the terminal on several occasions since becoming active again in March. Delaware-based Cook Inlet Pipeline Co.

June 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.

June 15th, 2009 Tides stymie fuel removal from sunken vesselANCHORAGE, Alaska — Divers on Sunday began removing fuel from an oil field supply ship that sank in the Cook Inlet five months ago, but the work was soon halted when the inlet's extreme tides started rocking a vessel being used as a staging area. Divers pumped out about 1,000 gallons of an estimated 30,000 gallons of diesel on board the sunken Monarch, according to a spokesman for the owner of the 166-foot vessel.

May 31st, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - A desperate attempt to rescue dozens of pilot whales that washed up on a Cape Town beach in stormy seas ended with 44 out of 55 whales having to be euthanised, a marine scientist said Sunday. "We euthanised 42, and another two were euthanised during the night (Saturday night)," Marine and Coastal Management scientist Mike Meyer was quoted by the South African Press Association (SAPA) as saying.

May 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.

May 9th, 2009 Nice going, mom! Right whales break birth recordBOSTON — Right whales have plenty to celebrate this Mother's Day — the sea moms gave birth to a record 39 calves this spring. The New England Aquarium said Friday that the birth surge breaks the old record of 31 and shows much improvement from 2000, when only one calf was born.