whales

Male Humpback Whales Photographed Having Sex, First Ones Caught on Camera

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Two humpback whales got caught on-camera engaging in some very adult activities, the first photos of their kind featuring the species … and it turns out both the whales were dudes! Here’s the deal … a just-published study in Marine Mammal Science features pics documenting a sexual encounter between a pair of humpback whales off … Read more

A pod of killer whales trapped in drift ice off northern Japan has apparently safely escaped

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TOKYO — A pod of killer whales that was trapped in drift ice off Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido, prompting concern from environmental groups, has apparently safely escaped, officials said Wednesday. The killer whales, also known as orcas, were initially spotted by a local fisherman who reported them to officials in the nearby town … Read more

Sailors playing heavy metal to scare killer whales may be putting a target on their backs by telling the orcas exactly where to find them

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Some sailors off the Iberian coast are turning to heavy metal to deter orcas from ramming into their boats. A marine mammal researcher told Insider that the strategy could backfire. The music will also add to human-made ocean noise, which is already a major issue for marine animals. Sailors using heavy metal music to deter … Read more

Greenpeace urges Greece to scrap offshore gas drilling project because of impact on whales, dolphins

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ATHENS, Greece — Greenpeace on Thursday urged Greece to abandon a deep-sea gas exploration project in the Mediterranean, citing newly published research to argue that its impact on endangered whales and dolphins would be greater than previously believed. The environmental group said a survey last year in waters off southwestern Greece and Crete that are … Read more