When most people imagine whales, they picture enormous creatures with smooth, shiny skin moving silently through the ocean. Unlike seals or sea otters, whales do not appear to have fur, which raises an interesting question: do whales actually have hair? The surprising answer is yes — but only in very small amounts, and the story is more complicated than it seems. Whales, … [Read more...] about Do Whales Have Hair? The Surprising Truth About These Giant Ocean Mammals
Whales
Iceland Decides To Continue Whaling, Issuing Hunting Permits For 128 Fin Whales
Iceland's dying whaling industry clings to life for another hunting season. In a surprising and controversial decision, Iceland has announced it will continue its whaling practices. The Icelandic government revealed today that Hvalur hf., the nation’s last whaling company, will receive an annual permit to hunt 99 fin whales in the Greenland/West Iceland region, along with an … [Read more...] about Iceland Decides To Continue Whaling, Issuing Hunting Permits For 128 Fin Whales
Killer whales keep ramming and sinking boats. Scientists now may know why, report says
For the last five years, killer whales have been ramming – and in some cases sinking – expensive yachts, fishing boats, and motorboats in the crystalline waters off the coast of Spain, Portugal, France, and Morocco. The reason for this behavior had been a mystery – until recently. A multinational group of orca experts, sponsored by the governments of Spain and Portugal, met … [Read more...] about Killer whales keep ramming and sinking boats. Scientists now may know why, report says
Are We Really About To Talk To Whales?
The past decade has seen an explosion of new research into some of the most fascinating sounds in the sea: the vocalizations of whales and dolphins. Scientists have uncovered how humpback whales learn songs from neighboring populations, allowing these songs to travel from western Australia to South America. They discovered bowhead whales singing 184 different songs over … [Read more...] about Are We Really About To Talk To Whales?
Japan To Start Hunting Fin Whales, The Second-Largest Animal On Earth
Fin whale meat is back on the menu in Japan. The resumption of commercial whaling by Japan in June 2019 stirred global controversy, and now, the nation's latest move has once again ignited furor among conservationists. Japan has announced its decision to include fin whales, the second-largest animal on Earth, to its list of commercial whaling species within its exclusive … [Read more...] about Japan To Start Hunting Fin Whales, The Second-Largest Animal On Earth