Whales and other cetaceans

Japan to resume whaling in Antarctic despite court ruling : Japan has announced it will resume whaling in the Antarctic early next year after a break of more than a year. The decision comes despite an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that Japan cease all whaling. The Japanese government says it has taken into account the court ruling and its "scientific" whaling programme will be much smaller. But the announcement has been condemned by environmental groups and the Australian and UK governments. 'via Blog this' 'via Blog this'

Greens demand action against Japan whaling : "The Greens are demanding the federal government use submarine contracts to pressure Japan out of sending whaling ships to the Southern Ocean. The Japanese government says it will dispatch a "research" whaling mission to the Southern Ocean on Tuesday. The announcement came as Attorney-General George Brandis told parliament Australia was making diplomatic representations at "the highest levels" in a bid to get Japan to change its mind. He told the Senate on Monday the government would consider sending a Customs patrol vessel to the Southern Ocean if talks weren't successful. Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson says Japan are "thumbing their nose" at the Australian people." 'via Blog this'

Drones being used to assess health of whales off WA coast - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) : "Drones are being used to assess the health of whales and their calves for the first time in research being trialled off the Western Australian coast. Murdoch University said the drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), were being used to measure seasonal changes in body condition of humpback whales in the Exmouth Gulf and their influence on calf growth. Cetacean Research Unit researcher Dr Fredrik Christiansen said the current practice for measuring whales off boats could be invasive and dangerous." 'via Blog this'

Australian court fines Japanese whaling company $1m for 'intentional' breaches | Environment | The Guardian : "An Australian court has found a Japanese whaling company guilty of “wilful contempt” of court for breaching an order to stop killing whales, and has fined it $1m. On Wednesday, the Australian federal court heard an application by Humane Society International (HSI) as part of a decade-long legal battle against the company Kyodo Senpaku to stop Japan killing whales within Australia’s Antarctic whale sanctuary. HSI alleged that the company had several times breached a 2008 injunction to stop taking whales in the sanctuary. It is the first finding of contempt of Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Campaigners try to halt Japan whale hunt in last-ditch legal fight Read more Federal court judge Jayne Jagot found Kyodo had engaged in all the alleged breaches." 'via Blog this'

Large shark stalks dead sperm whale off Australian shore - BBC News : "Swimmers have been warned to stay out of the water off far east Gippsland in Victoria, Australia, after a large shark was spotted stalking a whale carcass that washed up on the shore. The state parks authority tweeted images of what appears to be a 4m (13ft) white pointer at Salmon Rocks Parks Victoria worker Mike Irvine said he was surprised to spot the shark heading towards the beached whale. Authorities said the whale probably died of natural causes. They said they were monitoring it but hoped the carcass would wash out to sea with the tide." 'via Blog this'

Lost whale calf spotted swimming alone off Barcelona beach has died - The Local : "A young whale that appeared off the beach in Barcelona had to be put down by vets on Friday after becoming so weak because it had lost its mother." 'via Blog this'

What an amazing capture this week of a humpback whale breaching in front of Cape Pillar by Martino Gavazzi #tasmania pic.twitter.com/djg1gHV8w8 — Greg Faull (@greg_faull) November 11, 2015

These Animals Use Personal Names, But Never Gossip - Facts So Romantic - Nautilus : "In the ocean, bottlenose dolphins and calves whistle to call each other when they’re out of visual contact: Mom calls Junior using his signature whistle, and he echoes it back in acknowledgement. ... Just as human children typically bear their parents’ last name, some dolphin calves adopt whistles that are like their mother’s 'via Blog this'

There Are Whales Alive Today Who Were Born Before Moby Dick Was Written | Smart News | Smithsonian : In Alaska’s North Slope, the population of bowhead whales seems to be recovering. But that’s really not the coolest part of this Alaska Dispatch story . Instead, it’s this, noticed by Geoffry Gagnon: There are bowhead whales still alive in arctic that were born long before Moby Dick was written in 1851. That's nuts http://t.co/FjGI9EZf — Geoffrey Gagnon (@geoffgagnon) January 8, 2013 'via Blog this'

Orca Protection Bill Would Phase Out SeaWorld's 'Shamu Shows' | ThinkProgress : "Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced on Friday that he will introduce the Orca Responsibility and Care Advancement (ORCA) Act, to “phase out the captivity of orcas so that their display ends with this generation.” The legislation, which would ban breeding, wild capture, and import or export of orcas for the purpose of public exhibition, would eventually put an end to SeaWorld’s controversial “Shamu Shows.” Schiff tweeted: “Orcas are too socially complex, too intelligent, too long-lived and simply too big to thrive in confinement.” His office released a fact-sheet noting that the proposal is supported by the Animal Welfare Institute, the Human Society of the United States, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. SeaWorld, however, was quick to respond with a SeaWorld Cares blog post claiming that the amusement park chain has “always supported sc...

SeaWorld To Change Its Criticized Orca Show After Next Year : The Two-Way : NPR : SeaWorld has been deluged by negative publicity over how its parks treat killer whales, or orcas. The 2013 documentary Blackfish — which delved into the death of marine-mammal trainer Dawn Brancheau — highlighted the alleged toll years of captivity can take on the animals. The company's market value has plummeted since the documentary was shown on CNN . And some lawmakers began taking up the animal-rights activists' cause. Last year, California state lawmakers pushed legislation that would prohibit SeaWorld from using orcas in its shows . And this past Friday, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., introduced a bill in Congress that would "prohibit the breeding, the taking (wild capture), and the import or export of orcas for the purposes of public display." On Monday during a webcast, SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby announced changes to the orca shows . Manby said the new show would be "inf...

An incredible whale shot captured near @AmazingAlbany in @AustraliasSW (Photo: mattblakersphoto/via IG) pic.twitter.com/FfSiMxORSU — Australia (@Australia) November 7, 2015

SeaWorld Sinks in Wake of Killer Whale Outcry - Bloomberg Business : "SeaWorld Entertainment Inc., the theme-park operator under fire from animal activists for its treatment of killer whales, dropped as much as 9.5 percent after reporting third-quarter results that fell short of analysts’ estimates and cutting its 2015 earnings forecast." 'via Blog this'

Ten pilot whales stranded on Calais beach - BBC News : "Ten long-finned pilot whales have been found stranded on a beach in Calais. Three were able to be rescued and returned to sea, but six of the whales were dead before the authorities arrived and one more died as they were trying to save it." 'via Blog this'