More dolphins slaughtered in Taiji, Japan
Whale and Dolphin Conservation report that on Sunday 23rd November 2014, in Taiji Japan, a pod of approximately 16 Risso’s dolphins were driven into the killing cove and 11 were slaughtered for their meat. The WDC comments: "The dolphin drive hunts are extremely cruel, involving the exhausting and traumatic driving from the open ocean that can separate mothers and calves and other family groups, to confinement in a netted cove where the dolphins are crudely slaughtered. Last
Beached baby dolphin returned to its mother.
The Australian.com reports a tiny baby dolphin being beachedf near Port Lincoln this week. Fortunately picnicing couple Andy Wright and his wife Jo had travelled to Lone Pine beach, at Sleaford Bay south of Port Lincoln. The were able to return the baby dolphin to its mother. For some very cute pictures see this link.
Dolphins added to the migratory endangered species list
The United Nations have added 31 animals to its list of migratory endangered species last Sunday under an international treaty called the Conservation of Migratory Species. The Dodo reports that marine animals were big winners at the meeting — not only were 21 species of ray, shark and sawfish added, but the convention highlighted the cultural capabilities of dolphins and whales. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation commented: "In the future, instead of just counting numbers o
Short beaked dolphins sighting in Stranford Lough, Ireland
'Afloat', a website in Ireland report to short beaked dolphins being sighted for the first time in Stranford Lough, Ireland. They comment: 'According to the Belfast Telegraph, the scientists from Queen's University were on the lough to collect seaweed samples last Wednesday morning (5 November) when they were surprised by the sight of the playful marine mammals, and took out a smartphone to film their breaching, rolling and belly-flopping antics. Little did they know at the t
Dolphin attends scene of Marine Rescue
The Australian Daily Telegraph reports: 'Marine Rescue crew had an unexpected visitor on Sunday when they were helping a man whose sailing dinghy had capsized. The duty crew on rescue vessel Central Coast 20 at the Marine Rescue base at Point Clare noticed the dinghy on the Broadwater which was drifting towards the rocky western shoreline. The duty skipper, Ken Sharp, and his crew Mitch Giles and Robert Smith, motored down to the man and offered help. Marine Rescue spokesman,
Baby dolphin saved in Malta
Baby dolphin saved in Malta after having been pushed onto the rocks by the waves: Read more at Malta Today
Fuji, the dolphin with the first prosthetic tail dies
Discovery News reports that Fuji the dolphin has died at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan. Fuji was first dolphin in the world to receive a prosthetic tail fin at about the age of 45. Fuji arrived at the aquarium in 1976, after having been captured off Ito City, on Japan's eastern shore. In 2002, an unknown disease caused 75 percent of her tail fin to rot. She was fitted with a rubberized prosthetic tail fin and was able to swim and dive again, and even re-learn how t
Disease affecting dolphins
USA Today reports that a serious disease has been affecting dolphins off the Atlantic coast of the United states. It reports the death of at least 1,550 bottlenose dolphins in the region since July 2013. This is caused apparently by the morbillivirus, a measles-like virus that causes pneumonia, skin lesions and brain infections in dolphins. Lets hope the outbreak is over soon.