'How far will you go for me?' is perhaps the most cliched question lovers ask each other just to tease. By this literal measure, humpaback whales should be called the most ardent lovers on the planet. Because a study says that they swim across oceans crossing more than 3000 miles just to find a mate.

For this study, the scientists took a look at and analyzed more than 450,000 pictures of whales in the wild in order to track movements of the animal. Scientists found that the whales travelled thousands of miles in search of a mate.

The researcher tracked two distinctive males that had unique markings on their tails. They were observed off the western coast of Mexico and near Hawaii in a span of less than two months. The distance between these two oceanic regions is 3700 miles. The time taken by the whales to swim the distance revealed that they were swimming a bit faster than their typical speed of 2.5 miles per hour.&nbsp;

"They might just be traveling the ocean like it's their own backyard," said James Darling of the Whale Trust Maui in Hawaii and an author on the study. He was quoted by The New Scientist.

So next time you have to go the extra mile for your significant other, don't crib too much. Just try to keep up with the race to be a good lover. You probably would never win it. Doesn't hurt to try,&nbsp;eh?

'How far will you go for me?' is perhaps the most cliched question lovers ask each other just to tease. By this literal measure, humpaback whales should be called the most ardent lovers on the planet.

'How far will you go for me?' is perhaps the most cliched question lovers ask each other just to tease. By this literal measure, humpaback whales should be called the most ardent lovers on the planet. Because a study says that they swim across oceans crossing more than 3000 miles just to find a mate. For this study, the scientists took a look at and analyzed more than 450,000 pictures of whales in the wild in order to track movements of the animal. Scientists found that the whales travelled thousands of miles in search of a mate. The researcher tracked two distinctive males that had unique markings on their tails. They were observed off the western coast of Mexico and near Hawaii in a span of less than two months. The distance between these two oceanic regions is 3700 miles. The time taken by the whales to swim the distance revealed that they were swimming a bit faster than their typical speed of 2.5 miles per hour. "They might just be traveling the ocean like it's their own backyard," said James Darling of the Whale Trust Maui in Hawaii and an author on the study. He was quoted by The New Scientist. So next time you have to go the extra mile for your significant other, don't crib too much. Just try to keep up with the race to be a good lover. You probably would never win it. Doesn't hurt to try, eh?

Humpback whales swim more than 3000 miles to find a lover, says study

With the goal of 'talking' to the majestic marine animals, a project to listen to, contextualise and translate the communication of Sperm whales was recently launched by a team of international scientists. &nbsp;

Called Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative), the initiative looks to harness the power of artificial intelligence to interpret clicking sounds, or 'codas,' which these whales make to communicate with one another. &nbsp;

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The researchers have been using natural language processing or NLP, a subfield of artificial intelligence focused on processing written and spoken human language. It will be trained in four billion Sperm whale codas. &nbsp;

According to the researchers, the plan is to have the AI correlate each sound with a specific context. This feat will take at least five years. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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If the team achieves these goals, the next step would be to develop and deploy an interactive chatbot, which engages in dialogue with Sperm whales living in the wild. &nbsp;

Michael Bronstein, lead, machine learning for Project CETI, told Hakai, "If we discover that there is an entire civilisation basically under our nose — maybe it will result in some shift in the way that we treat our environment. And maybe it will result in more respect for the living world." &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

With the goal of 'talking' to the majestic marine animals, a project to listen to, contextualise and translate the communication of Sperm whales was recently launched by a team of international scientists.

With the goal of 'talking' to the majestic marine animals, a project to listen to, contextualise and translate the communication of Sperm whales was recently launched by a team of international scientists. Called Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative), the initiative looks to harness the power of artificial intelligence to interpret clicking sounds, or 'codas,' which these whales make to communicate with one another. Also Read: Why is mysterious dark energy leading to expansion of the universe? The researchers have been using natural language processing or NLP, a subfield of artificial intelligence focused on processing written and spoken human language. It will be trained in four billion Sperm whale codas. According to the researchers, the plan is to have the AI correlate each sound with a specific context. This feat will take at least five years. Also Read: During Halloween weekend, solar flare helps northern lights become visible to US If the team achieves these goals, the next step would be to develop and deploy an interactive chatbot, which engages in dialogue with Sperm whales living in the wild. Michael Bronstein, lead, machine learning for Project CETI, told Hakai, "If we discover that there is an entire civilisation basically under our nose — maybe it will result in some shift in the way that we treat our environment. And maybe it will result in more respect for the living world." (With inputs from agencies)

Humans may get to talk to whales, courtesy artificial intelligence

The World Marine Foundation on Tuesday said that rescue teams were successful in saving two stranded whales along Atlantic coast of Argentina.

The whales were stranded on a beach in seaside resort town of La Lucila del Mar. The town is 220&nbsp;miles (360 kilometres south of Argentina's capital Buenos Aires.

"The first, which was stranded on Sunday, was a juvenile female humpback whale, 32 feet (9.8 meters) long and approximately eight tons in weight," the conservation group said in a statement.&nbsp;

The second fish, which "is a male of the same species, 28 feet long, and approximately seven tons, appeared Monday night," the foundation added.&nbsp;

About 30 people participated in the rescue. This included local residents, marine conservationists, Civil Defense members, coast guard officers, firefighters, volunteers and beach lifeguards.&nbsp;

Their collective efforts allowed the animals to return to the sea, the statement said.&nbsp;

"Upon arriving to survey the first animal's situation, primary support efforts were immediately carried out, including assuring the individual's position allowed it to breathe, keeping its pectoral fins underwater in order to stabilize its body temperature as much as possible," the organization said.&nbsp;

The whole procedure was "difficult," the group said. At one point, the force of the waves knocked the whale over so that the mammal's blowhole was underwater and it was unable to breathe.&nbsp;

"Thanks to a quick action, they were able to turn it over," said Sergio Rodriguez Heredia, a biologist at the World Marine Foundation's Rescue Center.&nbsp;

Rescuers tucked cables underneath the whale's body -- connected to a huge backhoe tractor crane -- hoping to free it from the sandy sea floor.&nbsp;

The workers noticed the second whale overnight, seeing it was in a "good state of health," said Augusto Giachetti, director of the Civil Defense's coastal division.&nbsp;

They waited until dawn to begin the second whale's rescue.&nbsp;

"It was necessary to realign the animal, using the assistance of a backhoe and special cables to move it a big enough distance that it was able to float," he Giachetti said.&nbsp;

Once the whale realized it was able to float, it swam out to sea.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The World Marine Foundation on Tuesday said that rescue teams were successful in saving two stranded whales along Atlantic coast of Argentina. The whales were stranded on a beach in seaside resort town of La Lucila del Mar.

The World Marine Foundation on Tuesday said that rescue teams were successful in saving two stranded whales along Atlantic coast of Argentina. The whales were stranded on a beach in seaside resort town of La Lucila del Mar. The town is 220 miles (360 kilometres south of Argentina's capital Buenos Aires. "The first, which was stranded on Sunday, was a juvenile female humpback whale, 32 feet (9.8 meters) long and approximately eight tons in weight," the conservation group said in a statement. The second fish, which "is a male of the same species, 28 feet long, and approximately seven tons, appeared Monday night," the foundation added. About 30 people participated in the rescue. This included local residents, marine conservationists, Civil Defense members, coast guard officers, firefighters, volunteers and beach lifeguards. Their collective efforts allowed the animals to return to the sea, the statement said. "Upon arriving to survey the first animal's situation, primary support efforts were immediately carried out, including assuring the individual's position allowed it to breathe, keeping its pectoral fins underwater in order to stabilize its body temperature as much as possible," the organization said. The whole procedure was "difficult," the group said. At one point, the force of the waves knocked the whale over so that the mammal's blowhole was underwater and it was unable to breathe. "Thanks to a quick action, they were able to turn it over," said Sergio Rodriguez Heredia, a biologist at the World Marine Foundation's Rescue Center. Rescuers tucked cables underneath the whale's body -- connected to a huge backhoe tractor crane -- hoping to free it from the sandy sea floor. The workers noticed the second whale overnight, seeing it was in a "good state of health," said Augusto Giachetti, director of the Civil Defense's coastal division. They waited until dawn to begin the second whale's rescue. "It was necessary to realign the animal, using the assistance of a backhoe and special cables to move it a big enough distance that it was able to float," he Giachetti said. Once the whale realized it was able to float, it swam out to sea. (With inputs from agencies)

Two beached humpback whales rescued in Argentina

Once hunted to near extinction, whales continue to face threats from marine pollution, ships & abandoned fishing gear. Why must these evolutionary marvels be protected?

Wion Wideangle: Whales under attack: Calls from the deep

Whales under attack: Calls from the deep | WION Wideangle

A new study suggests that whales&nbsp;have a long lifespan for mammals and they tend to be resistant to cancer.

These properties are also found in&nbsp;dolphins and porpoises. In general, when a creature has more cells in its body, they are expected to be more vulnerable to random mutations that can develop into cancer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/volunteers-try-to-help-stranded-whales-off-new-zealands-south-island-365680/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to&nbsp;lead author Daniela Tejada-Martinez at the Austral University of Chile,&nbsp;"Given this, we would expect that large and long-lived species, such as whales, have a higher rate of cancer than in small species.''

So how to explain the longevity of the bowhead whale, which can reach 60 feet in length, weigh up to around 200,000 pounds (nearly 100 tonnes) and live for more than 200 years?&nbsp;

"The way in which the different species throughout their evolutionary history managed to fight cancer remains a mystery," Tejada-Martinez said.

This is known as Peto's paradox when some species do not have an incidence of cancer that correlates with their cell count.&nbsp;&nbsp;

To investigate this, researchers tracked the evolution of 1,077 tumour suppressor genes.&nbsp;

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, found signs of positive genetic selection in key regulators of DNA-damage and the immune system.&nbsp;

The turnover rate for these tumour suppression genes was almost 2.4 times higher in cetaceans than other mammals.&nbsp;

Researchers also identified duplication of 11 genes linked to longevity. But the patterns of gene evolution varied by species.&nbsp;

Baleen whales, for example, had molecular variants in their tumour-suppressing genes and a fast turnover rate, which may explain the evolution of their "gigantism and longevity", said Tejada-Martinez.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The bottlenose dolphin, however, had the lowest number of gene copies among the cetaceans studied.&nbsp;

Since this species is associated with an increased incidence of cancer, the authors hypothesised that this suggests a higher rate of tumour suppressor gene copies could mean a lower risk of developing cancer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The link between evolutionary biology and medicine allows a more complete understanding of how the different forms of genetic variations contribute to cancer resistance and the ageing evolution in cetaceans," said Tejada-Martinez.&nbsp;

"The discovery of new molecular variants including additional copies of genes could be the key to reveal new biological pathways that could lead to the creation of innovative treatments for cancer and age-related diseases."

A new study suggests that whales have a long lifespan for mammals and they tend to be resistant to cancer. These properties are also found in dolphins and porpoises.

A new study suggests that whales have a long lifespan for mammals and they tend to be resistant to cancer. These properties are also found in dolphins and porpoises. In general, when a creature has more cells in its body, they are expected to be more vulnerable to random mutations that can develop into cancer. According to lead author Daniela Tejada-Martinez at the Austral University of Chile, "Given this, we would expect that large and long-lived species, such as whales, have a higher rate of cancer than in small species.'' So how to explain the longevity of the bowhead whale, which can reach 60 feet in length, weigh up to around 200,000 pounds (nearly 100 tonnes) and live for more than 200 years? "The way in which the different species throughout their evolutionary history managed to fight cancer remains a mystery," Tejada-Martinez said. This is known as Peto's paradox when some species do not have an incidence of cancer that correlates with their cell count. To investigate this, researchers tracked the evolution of 1,077 tumour suppressor genes. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, found signs of positive genetic selection in key regulators of DNA-damage and the immune system. The turnover rate for these tumour suppression genes was almost 2.4 times higher in cetaceans than other mammals. Researchers also identified duplication of 11 genes linked to longevity. But the patterns of gene evolution varied by species. Baleen whales, for example, had molecular variants in their tumour-suppressing genes and a fast turnover rate, which may explain the evolution of their "gigantism and longevity", said Tejada-Martinez. The bottlenose dolphin, however, had the lowest number of gene copies among the cetaceans studied. Since this species is associated with an increased incidence of cancer, the authors hypothesised that this suggests a higher rate of tumour suppressor gene copies could mean a lower risk of developing cancer. "The link between evolutionary biology and medicine allows a more complete understanding of how the different forms of genetic variations contribute to cancer resistance and the ageing evolution in cetaceans," said Tejada-Martinez. "The discovery of new molecular variants including additional copies of genes could be the key to reveal new biological pathways that could lead to the creation of innovative treatments for cancer and age-related diseases."

Study reveals whales are cancer resistence 'in their genes'

Weighing up to 380,000 pounds and stretching some 100 feet long, the blue whale — the largest creature to have ever lived on Earth — might at first seem difficult for human eyes and ears to miss.

But a previously unknown population of the leviathans has long been lurking in the Indian Ocean, leaving scientists none the wiser, new research suggests.

The covert cadre of whales, described in a paper published last week in the journal Endangered Species Research, has its own signature anthem: a slow, bellowing ballad that’s distinct from any other whale song ever described. It joins only a dozen or so other blue whale songs that have been documented, each the calling card of a unique population.

“It’s like hearing different songs within a genre — Stevie Ray Vaughan versus B.B. King,” said Salvatore Cerchio, a marine mammal biologist at the African Aquatic Conservation Fund in Massachusetts and the study’s lead author. “It’s all blues, but you know the different styles.”

The find is “a great reminder that our oceans are still this very unexplored place,” said Asha de Vos, a marine biologist who has studied blue whales in the Indian Ocean but was not involved in the new study.

Cerchio and his colleagues first tuned into the whales’ newfound song while in scientific pursuit of a pod of Omura’s whales off the coast of Madagascar several years ago. After hearing the rumblings of blue whales via a recorder planted on the coastal shelf, the researchers decided to drop their instruments into deeper water in the hopes of eavesdropping further.

“If you put a hydrophone somewhere no one has put a hydrophone before, you’re going to discover something,” Cerchio said.

A number of blue whale populations, each with its own characteristic croon, have long been known to visit this pocket of the Indian Ocean, Cerchio said. But one of the songs that crackled through the team’s Madagascar recordings was unlike any the researchers had heard.

By 2018, the team had picked up on several more instances of the new whales’ now-recognizable refrain. Partnerships with other researchers soon revealed that the distinctive calls had been detected at another recording outpost off the coast of Oman, in the Arabian Sea, where the sounds seem particularly prevalent. Another windfall came later that year when Cerchio learned that colleagues in Australia had heard the whales crooning the same song in the central Indian Ocean, near the Chagos Archipelago.

Data amassed from the three sites, each separated from the others by hundreds or thousands of miles, painted a rough portrait of a pod of whales moseying about in the Indian Ocean’s northwest and perhaps beyond.

Using acoustic data to pin down a new population is, by nature, indirect, like dusting for fingerprints at the scene of a crime. But Alex Carbaugh-Rutland, who studies blue whales at Texas A&amp;M University and was not involved in the study, said the results “were very sound, no pun intended.”

The researchers ruled out the possibility that the songs could be attributed to other species of whales. And side-by-side comparisons of the new blue whale tune with others showed convincingly that the northwestern Indian Ocean variety was distinct, Carbaugh-Rutland said. “I think it’s really compelling evidence,” he said, drawing a comparison to linguistic dialects.

Genetic samples would help clinch the case, he added. But blue whales, which spend most of their time far from shore, are difficult to study. Whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries also culled hundreds of thousands from their ranks; an estimated 10,000 to 25,000 blue whales are thought to remain.

Not much is known about blue whale songs, although most researchers think that they help males woo their mates, as is the case with closely related species. That can make any modifications to a cetacean melody fairly high stakes, de Vos said: “If two populations can’t talk to each other, over time, they’re going to grow apart.”

Eventually, populations with different takes on a tune might splinter into subspecies, with their own behaviors and quirks. There’s not yet evidence to show that has happened with these blue whales, nor much information on what might have driven them apart from their southerly kin. But even if the whales in this new group don’t yet formally occupy a new branch on the tree of life, they are worth getting to know.

“What things like this show us is that there are different populations, with different adaptations, with potentially different needs,” de Vos said. To conserve the world’s blue whales, she said, “there’s not one single protection measure that’s going to work.”

Weighing up to 380,000 pounds and stretching some 100 feet long, the blue whale — the largest creature to have ever lived on Earth — might at first seem difficult for human eyes and ears to miss.

Weighing up to 380,000 pounds and stretching some 100 feet long, the blue whale — the largest creature to have ever lived on Earth — might at first seem difficult for human eyes and ears to miss. But a previously unknown population of the leviathans has long been lurking in the Indian Ocean, leaving scientists none the wiser, new research suggests. The covert cadre of whales, described in a paper published last week in the journal Endangered Species Research, has its own signature anthem: a slow, bellowing ballad that’s distinct from any other whale song ever described. It joins only a dozen or so other blue whale songs that have been documented, each the calling card of a unique population. “It’s like hearing different songs within a genre — Stevie Ray Vaughan versus B.B. King,” said Salvatore Cerchio, a marine mammal biologist at the African Aquatic Conservation Fund in Massachusetts and the study’s lead author. “It’s all blues, but you know the different styles.” The find is “a great reminder that our oceans are still this very unexplored place,” said Asha de Vos, a marine biologist who has studied blue whales in the Indian Ocean but was not involved in the new study. Cerchio and his colleagues first tuned into the whales’ newfound song while in scientific pursuit of a pod of Omura’s whales off the coast of Madagascar several years ago. After hearing the rumblings of blue whales via a recorder planted on the coastal shelf, the researchers decided to drop their instruments into deeper water in the hopes of eavesdropping further. “If you put a hydrophone somewhere no one has put a hydrophone before, you’re going to discover something,” Cerchio said. A number of blue whale populations, each with its own characteristic croon, have long been known to visit this pocket of the Indian Ocean, Cerchio said. But one of the songs that crackled through the team’s Madagascar recordings was unlike any the researchers had heard. By 2018, the team had picked up on several more instances of the new whales’ now-recognizable refrain. Partnerships with other researchers soon revealed that the distinctive calls had been detected at another recording outpost off the coast of Oman, in the Arabian Sea, where the sounds seem particularly prevalent. Another windfall came later that year when Cerchio learned that colleagues in Australia had heard the whales crooning the same song in the central Indian Ocean, near the Chagos Archipelago. Data amassed from the three sites, each separated from the others by hundreds or thousands of miles, painted a rough portrait of a pod of whales moseying about in the Indian Ocean’s northwest and perhaps beyond. Using acoustic data to pin down a new population is, by nature, indirect, like dusting for fingerprints at the scene of a crime. But Alex Carbaugh-Rutland, who studies blue whales at Texas A&M University and was not involved in the study, said the results “were very sound, no pun intended.” The researchers ruled out the possibility that the songs could be attributed to other species of whales. And side-by-side comparisons of the new blue whale tune with others showed convincingly that the northwestern Indian Ocean variety was distinct, Carbaugh-Rutland said. “I think it’s really compelling evidence,” he said, drawing a comparison to linguistic dialects. Genetic samples would help clinch the case, he added. But blue whales, which spend most of their time far from shore, are difficult to study. Whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries also culled hundreds of thousands from their ranks; an estimated 10,000 to 25,000 blue whales are thought to remain. Not much is known about blue whale songs, although most researchers think that they help males woo their mates, as is the case with closely related species. That can make any modifications to a cetacean melody fairly high stakes, de Vos said: “If two populations can’t talk to each other, over time, they’re going to grow apart.” Eventually, populations with different takes on a tune might splinter into subspecies, with their own behaviors and quirks. There’s not yet evidence to show that has happened with these blue whales, nor much information on what might have driven them apart from their southerly kin. But even if the whales in this new group don’t yet formally occupy a new branch on the tree of life, they are worth getting to know. “What things like this show us is that there are different populations, with different adaptations, with potentially different needs,” de Vos said. To conserve the world’s blue whales, she said, “there’s not one single protection measure that’s going to work.”

A new population of Blue Whales was discovered hiding in the Indian Ocean

Researchers believe they have found a previously unknown species of beaked whale in waters off Mexico's western coast. If confirmed, the new species would mark a significant discovery among giant mammals.

Researchers think they spotted new whale species off Mexico

Villagers and the Sri Lankan navy worked throughout the night to refloat beached whales, but not all were saved and carcasses of some lay scattered on the beach on Tuesday (November 3).

Sri Lankan navy, villagers work through night to rescue stranded whales

Australian wildlife officials began disposing of hundreds of dead pilot whales on Saturday after concluding there was no longer any hope of rescuing any more.

In Australia's biggest whale beaching, 470 whales&nbsp;were first spotted on a wide sandbank during an aerial reconnaissance of rugged Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania state on Monday.

After days of difficult and dangerous rescue attempts, Australia said they rescued 108 whales, with the rest now believed to have died.

Rob Buck, Incident Controller and Parks and Wildlife Service manager, said 15 whales have already been disposed of at sea, but the operations to dispose of the remaining near 350 mammals was expected to take several days at least.

"Collection and disposal is being undertaken with the assistance of aquaculture companies whose equipment and expertise on the harbour is essential for a timely and effective outcome," Buck said in an emailed statement.

The bodies of the dead whales were being separated into groups and enclosed with water booms to try keep them in one place and isolated from sharks and other predators.

Most of the released whales, a gregarious species that lives in deep waters, were expected to "regroup" and recover from the traumatic event, officials said.

Australian wildlife officials began disposing of hundreds of dead pilot whales on Saturday after concluding there was no longer any hope of rescuing any more. In Australia's biggest whale beaching, 470 whales were first spotted on a wide sandbank during an aerial reconnaissance of rugged Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania state on Monday.

Australian wildlife officials began disposing of hundreds of dead pilot whales on Saturday after concluding there was no longer any hope of rescuing any more. In Australia's biggest whale beaching, 470 whales were first spotted on a wide sandbank during an aerial reconnaissance of rugged Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania state on Monday. After days of difficult and dangerous rescue attempts, Australia said they rescued 108 whales, with the rest now believed to have died. Rob Buck, Incident Controller and Parks and Wildlife Service manager, said 15 whales have already been disposed of at sea, but the operations to dispose of the remaining near 350 mammals was expected to take several days at least. "Collection and disposal is being undertaken with the assistance of aquaculture companies whose equipment and expertise on the harbour is essential for a timely and effective outcome," Buck said in an emailed statement. The bodies of the dead whales were being separated into groups and enclosed with water booms to try keep them in one place and isolated from sharks and other predators. Most of the released whales, a gregarious species that lives in deep waters, were expected to "regroup" and recover from the traumatic event, officials said.

Australia begins disposing hundreds of dead whales after rescuing 108

The majority of a 470-strong pod of pilot whales found stranded off Australia's remote southern coast has died, officials said on Wednesday (September 23) as rescuers struggled in freezing waters and fading light to free those still alive.

Australia: At least 380 pilot whales dead in mass stranding

Hundreds of pilot whales are stranded on a sandbar in Tasmania. What explains the mass whale stranding? Whales have tight family bonds - and they tend to stick together.

Gravitas: Hundreds of whales stranded on sandbar in Australia

Rescuers hope to save nearly 200 whales stuck in a remote Australian harbour, and to prevent the toll of 90 dead -- as of Tuesday -- from rising further.

They have so far managed to free "a small number" of the stranded mammals.

Scientists said two large pods of long-finned pilot whales became stuck on sandbars in Macquarie Harbour, on Tasmania's rugged and sparsely populated west coast.

About 60 people -- including volunteers and local fish-farm workers -- then got involved in the rescue attempt. They waded in the water to reach the whales to refloat them in deeper passages.

Though mass whale strandings occur relatively often in Tasmania, such a large group has not been seen in the area for more than a decade.

The animals are only accessible by boat, limiting the number of rescuers who can reach them. They are battling chilly and rainy conditions as well as the harbour's unusual tides, which are dictated by barometric pressure.

Most of a 30-strong group on a nearby beach&nbsp;were found dead Monday, while about 60 other whales on the sandbars are also believed to have since died.

Once the whales are returned to deeper water, rescuers said, the biggest challenge will be herding the social creatures out of the sandbar-riddled harbour and back into the open ocean.

Scientists said it was unclear what caused the latest stranding.

Rescuers hope to save nearly 200 whales stuck in a remote Australian harbour, and to prevent the toll of 90 dead -- as of Tuesday -- from rising further. They have so far managed to free "a small number" of the stranded mammals.

Rescuers hope to save nearly 200 whales stuck in a remote Australian harbour, and to prevent the toll of 90 dead -- as of Tuesday -- from rising further. They have so far managed to free "a small number" of the stranded mammals. Scientists said two large pods of long-finned pilot whales became stuck on sandbars in Macquarie Harbour, on Tasmania's rugged and sparsely populated west coast. About 60 people -- including volunteers and local fish-farm workers -- then got involved in the rescue attempt. They waded in the water to reach the whales to refloat them in deeper passages. Though mass whale strandings occur relatively often in Tasmania, such a large group has not been seen in the area for more than a decade. The animals are only accessible by boat, limiting the number of rescuers who can reach them. They are battling chilly and rainy conditions as well as the harbour's unusual tides, which are dictated by barometric pressure. Most of a 30-strong group on a nearby beach were found dead Monday, while about 60 other whales on the sandbars are also believed to have since died. Once the whales are returned to deeper water, rescuers said, the biggest challenge will be herding the social creatures out of the sandbar-riddled harbour and back into the open ocean. Scientists said it was unclear what caused the latest stranding.

Rescuers' race against time to save 180 stranded whales in Australia

Rescuers had set free at least 25 whales marooned on a sandbar off the remote west coast of the Australian island of Tasmania by late Tuesday (September 22), with hopes to refloat hundreds more within days and end one of the country's worst beaching events.

Australian rescuers save around 25 whales stranded on sandbar

Two former captive beluga whales, Little Grey and Little White, were successfully released into the world's first open water sea sanctuary for beluga whales in Iceland on Friday (August 7).

Beluga whales released into world's first open sea sanctuary

Activists from the Sea Shepherd conservation organization on Friday (February 21) rescued a Humpback whale that was caught in illegal fishing nets in Mexico's upper Sea of Cortes.

Whale rescued from illegal fishing net in Mexico's Sea of Cortes

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../over-400000-advised-evacuating-as-the-storm- bears-down-on-japan-243089">Japan </a>insisted Friday it no longer hunts endangered sei whales in international waters but faced accusations of still violating a wildlife treaty by allowing commercialisation of meat from past catches.

The standing committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) last October found Japan in breach of the treaty and ordered it to rectify the situation or face trade sanctions.

The elected panel, which handles the treaty's compliance and enforcement, dismissed Japan's claims that the cull since 2002 of some 1,500 North Pacific sei whales was only scientifically motivated.

Instead, it found that the hunt was primarily commercially motivated, and thus constituted international trade in a protected species and a clear violation of the treaty.

Japan told the committee meeting in Geneva on Friday that it no longer permits taking sei whales on the high sea and is therefore in compliance with CITES.

"This matter should be considered closed," a member of the Japanese delegation said, &nbsp;a day before a global conference of all 183 countries that have signed the treaty kicks off in Geneva.

But committee members from a range of countries, including the European Union, Israel, Niger, Peru and the United States, disagreed.

Many voiced outrage&nbsp;at the continued sale of meat and blubber from the whales deemed to have been illegally culled and imported over a 16-year period.

According to conservationists, 1,500 tonnes of meat from 131 sei whales killed in 2018 alone have been commercialised in Japan, and sei whale meat remains widely available in shops and restaurants in the country.

'Truly shocking'&nbsp;

"It is truly shocking," the representative from Niger told the meeting, maintaining that when illegal international trade is detected in other endangered species, such as elephant ivory, the stockpiles are ordered confiscated and destroyed.&nbsp;

The European Union representative agreed, pointing to article 8 of the convention, which he said "requires ... confiscating specimens traded, or in this case introduced from the sea, in violation of CITES."

Japan meanwhile stressed that it had immediately followed the committee's October ruling, but baulked at the idea it should be applied retroactively.

In the end, the committee ordered Japan to report back on its use of the sei whale stockpiles, but put off the thorny discussion on confiscation until next year.

While Japan remains bound by CITES &nbsp;international wildlife trade restrictions, it has withdrawn from the International Whaling Commission (IWC), enabling it last month to resume commercial whaling in its territorial waters for the first time in decades.

It has allotted itself a hunting quota of 227 of the giant sea mammals this year, including 25 sei whales.

Japan insisted Friday it no longer hunts endangered sei whales in international waters but faced accusations of still violating a wildlife treaty by allowing commercialisation of meat from past catches.

Japan insisted Friday it no longer hunts endangered sei whales in international waters but faced accusations of still violating a wildlife treaty by allowing commercialisation of meat from past catches. The standing committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) last October found Japan in breach of the treaty and ordered it to rectify the situation or face trade sanctions. The elected panel, which handles the treaty's compliance and enforcement, dismissed Japan's claims that the cull since 2002 of some 1,500 North Pacific sei whales was only scientifically motivated. Instead, it found that the hunt was primarily commercially motivated, and thus constituted international trade in a protected species and a clear violation of the treaty. Japan told the committee meeting in Geneva on Friday that it no longer permits taking sei whales on the high sea and is therefore in compliance with CITES. "This matter should be considered closed," a member of the Japanese delegation said, a day before a global conference of all 183 countries that have signed the treaty kicks off in Geneva. But committee members from a range of countries, including the European Union, Israel, Niger, Peru and the United States, disagreed. Many voiced outrage at the continued sale of meat and blubber from the whales deemed to have been illegally culled and imported over a 16-year period. According to conservationists, 1,500 tonnes of meat from 131 sei whales killed in 2018 alone have been commercialised in Japan, and sei whale meat remains widely available in shops and restaurants in the country. 'Truly shocking' "It is truly shocking," the representative from Niger told the meeting, maintaining that when illegal international trade is detected in other endangered species, such as elephant ivory, the stockpiles are ordered confiscated and destroyed. The European Union representative agreed, pointing to article 8 of the convention, which he said "requires ... confiscating specimens traded, or in this case introduced from the sea, in violation of CITES." Japan meanwhile stressed that it had immediately followed the committee's October ruling, but baulked at the idea it should be applied retroactively. In the end, the committee ordered Japan to report back on its use of the sei whale stockpiles, but put off the thorny discussion on confiscation until next year. While Japan remains bound by CITES international wildlife trade restrictions, it has withdrawn from the International Whaling Commission (IWC), enabling it last month to resume commercial whaling in its territorial waters for the first time in decades. It has allotted itself a hunting quota of 227 of the giant sea mammals this year, including 25 sei whales.

Japan under pressure over past hunting of endangered whales

Japan will resume whaling after a 30-year break despite the international backlash. Watch this video to know more.

Japan to hunt whales again from July

Gray whale deaths in US west coast may be linked to Arctic warmth

Scientists have long known that some beaked <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/sharp-rise-in-whale-dolphin-stranding-deaths-in-india-91">whales beach themselves and die in agony</a> after exposure to naval sonar, and now they know why: the giant sea mammals suffer decompression sickness, just like scuba divers.

At first blush, the explanation laid out Wednesday by 21 experts in the Royal Society journal Proceedings B seems implausible.

Millions of years of evolution have turned whales into perfectly calibrated diving machines that plunge kilometres (miles) below the surface for hours at a stretch, foraging for food in the inky depths.

The heart rate slows, blood flow is restricted, oxygen is conserved.&nbsp;

So how could the ocean's most accomplished deep-sea diver wind up with nitrogen bubbles poisoning its veins, like a scuba novice rising too quickly to the surface?

Short answer: beaked whales — especially one species known as Cuvier's — get really, really scared.

"In the presence of sonar they are stressed and swim vigorously away from the sound source, changing their diving pattern," lead author Yara Bernaldo de Quiros, a researcher at the Institute of Animal Health at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, told AFP.

"The stress response, in other words, overrides the diving response, which makes the animals accumulate nitrogen," she added. "It's like an adrenalin shot."

One type of sonar in particular throws these whales off balance.

'Atypical' mass strandings 
Developed in the 1950s to detect submarines, mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS) is used today in naval patrols and exercises, especially by the United States and its NATO allies.

Starting around 1960, ships began emitting underwater signals in a range of about 5 kilohertz (kHz).

That is when the mass beaching of beaked whales, especially in the Mediterranean, began.

Between 1960 and 2004, 121 of these so-called "atypical" mass strandings took place, with at least 40 closely linked in time and place with naval activities.

These were not individual strandings of old or sick animals, nor en masse strandings such the one last November in New Zealand, when more than 200 pilot whales beached themselves together.

Rather, a handful or more beaked whales would wash ashore within a day or two, and no more than few dozen kilometres apart. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

The most deadly episode, in 2002, saw 14 stranded over a 36-hour period in the Canary Islands during a NATO naval exercise.

"Within a few hours of the sonar being deployed, the animals started showing up on the beach," Bernaldo de Quiros said.

Outwardly, the whales showed no signs of disease or damage: they had normal body weight, and no skin lesions or infections.

Internally, it was another story. Nitrogen gas bubbles filled the veins, and their brains were ravaged by haemorrhaging.

Autopsies also revealed damage to other organs, as well as to the spinal cord and central nervous system.

Canary Island moratorium 
As with altitude sickness, reactions -- in humans, and probably in whales -- to nitrogen bubbles in the blood vary in type and intensity.

A 2003 study in Nature on the possible link between sonar and whale deaths led to Spain banning such naval exercises around the Canary Islands in 2004.

"Up until then, the Canaries were a hotspot for this kind of 'atypical' strandings," said Bernaldo de Quiros. "Since the moratorium, none have occurred."

The authors called for similar bans to be extended to other regions where at-risk whales are known to congregate.

The Cuvier's grows up to seven metres (23 feet) and dines mainly on deep-water squid and fish. Its upwardly turned mouth gives the impression of a permanent smile.

The whale is listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of endangered species, and is thought to have a global population of 5,000 to 7,000.&nbsp;

Other threats include ship strikes, ocean pollution and shifting habitats caused by climate change.

Scientists have long known that some beaked whales beach themselves and die in agony after exposure to naval sonar, and now they know why: the giant sea mammals suffer decompression sickness, just like scuba divers.

Scientists have long known that some beaked whales beach themselves and die in agony after exposure to naval sonar, and now they know why: the giant sea mammals suffer decompression sickness, just like scuba divers. At first blush, the explanation laid out Wednesday by 21 experts in the Royal Society journal Proceedings B seems implausible. Millions of years of evolution have turned whales into perfectly calibrated diving machines that plunge kilometres (miles) below the surface for hours at a stretch, foraging for food in the inky depths. The heart rate slows, blood flow is restricted, oxygen is conserved. So how could the ocean's most accomplished deep-sea diver wind up with nitrogen bubbles poisoning its veins, like a scuba novice rising too quickly to the surface? Short answer: beaked whales — especially one species known as Cuvier's — get really, really scared. "In the presence of sonar they are stressed and swim vigorously away from the sound source, changing their diving pattern," lead author Yara Bernaldo de Quiros, a researcher at the Institute of Animal Health at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, told AFP. "The stress response, in other words, overrides the diving response, which makes the animals accumulate nitrogen," she added. "It's like an adrenalin shot." One type of sonar in particular throws these whales off balance. 'Atypical' mass strandings Developed in the 1950s to detect submarines, mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS) is used today in naval patrols and exercises, especially by the United States and its NATO allies. Starting around 1960, ships began emitting underwater signals in a range of about 5 kilohertz (kHz). That is when the mass beaching of beaked whales, especially in the Mediterranean, began. Between 1960 and 2004, 121 of these so-called "atypical" mass strandings took place, with at least 40 closely linked in time and place with naval activities. These were not individual strandings of old or sick animals, nor en masse strandings such the one last November in New Zealand, when more than 200 pilot whales beached themselves together. Rather, a handful or more beaked whales would wash ashore within a day or two, and no more than few dozen kilometres apart. The most deadly episode, in 2002, saw 14 stranded over a 36-hour period in the Canary Islands during a NATO naval exercise. "Within a few hours of the sonar being deployed, the animals started showing up on the beach," Bernaldo de Quiros said. Outwardly, the whales showed no signs of disease or damage: they had normal body weight, and no skin lesions or infections. Internally, it was another story. Nitrogen gas bubbles filled the veins, and their brains were ravaged by haemorrhaging. Autopsies also revealed damage to other organs, as well as to the spinal cord and central nervous system. Canary Island moratorium As with altitude sickness, reactions -- in humans, and probably in whales -- to nitrogen bubbles in the blood vary in type and intensity. A 2003 study in Nature on the possible link between sonar and whale deaths led to Spain banning such naval exercises around the Canary Islands in 2004. "Up until then, the Canaries were a hotspot for this kind of 'atypical' strandings," said Bernaldo de Quiros. "Since the moratorium, none have occurred." The authors called for similar bans to be extended to other regions where at-risk whales are known to congregate. The Cuvier's grows up to seven metres (23 feet) and dines mainly on deep-water squid and fish. Its upwardly turned mouth gives the impression of a permanent smile. The whale is listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of endangered species, and is thought to have a global population of 5,000 to 7,000. Other threats include ship strikes, ocean pollution and shifting habitats caused by climate change.

Why do whales commit suicide? Answer may be sonar

Up to 145 pilot whales died in a mass stranding on a remote New Zealand island at the weekend, authorities said on Monday.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) said two pods of pilot whales were stranded on a beach on Stewart Island, 30 km (20 miles) south of New Zealand's South Island.

Half of the whales were already dead when they were found by DOC officers, who were notified on Saturday night by a hiker camping in the area.

A decision was made to put the rest of the whales down due to their poor condition and the remote location, DOC Rakiura Operations Manager Ren Leppens said.

"Sadly, the likelihood of being able to successfully refloat the remaining whales was extremely low," said Leppens, who described it as the most humane thing to do.

"However, it's always a heart-breaking decision to make," he said.

New Zealand has one of the world's highest rates of whale strandings, although the precise cause for it is not known.

The DOC said it responds to an average of 85 incidents a year, mostly for single animals.

Many factors could contribute to such whale and dolphin strandings, including sickness, navigational error, geographical features, a rapidly falling tide, being chased by a predator, or extreme weather, the DOC said.

Ten pygmy killer whales were also stranded on Sunday at 90 Mile Beach on the western coast of the North Island. Two have since died and attempts were being made to refloat the rest.

The DOC said the two events were unlikely to be related.

About 300 whales died on a beach at the northwest tip of South Island last year in one of New Zealand's largest recorded mass whale strandings.

Up to 145 pilot whales died in a mass stranding on a remote New Zealand island at the weekend, authorities said on Monday. The Department of Conservation (DOC) said two pods of pilot whales were stranded on a beach on Stewart Island, 30 km (20 miles) south of New Zealand's South Island.

Up to 145 pilot whales died in a mass stranding on a remote New Zealand island at the weekend, authorities said on Monday. The Department of Conservation (DOC) said two pods of pilot whales were stranded on a beach on Stewart Island, 30 km (20 miles) south of New Zealand's South Island. Half of the whales were already dead when they were found by DOC officers, who were notified on Saturday night by a hiker camping in the area. A decision was made to put the rest of the whales down due to their poor condition and the remote location, DOC Rakiura Operations Manager Ren Leppens said. "Sadly, the likelihood of being able to successfully refloat the remaining whales was extremely low," said Leppens, who described it as the most humane thing to do. "However, it's always a heart-breaking decision to make," he said. New Zealand has one of the world's highest rates of whale strandings, although the precise cause for it is not known. The DOC said it responds to an average of 85 incidents a year, mostly for single animals. Many factors could contribute to such whale and dolphin strandings, including sickness, navigational error, geographical features, a rapidly falling tide, being chased by a predator, or extreme weather, the DOC said. Ten pygmy killer whales were also stranded on Sunday at 90 Mile Beach on the western coast of the North Island. Two have since died and attempts were being made to refloat the rest. The DOC said the two events were unlikely to be related. About 300 whales died on a beach at the northwest tip of South Island last year in one of New Zealand's largest recorded mass whale strandings.

Up to 145 whales die after mass stranding in New Zealand

More than 400 whales were stranded on a New Zealand beach Friday, with hundreds already dead as volunteers tried to refloat the survivors, the Department of Conservation said.

Andrew Lamason, spokesman for the department, said it was one of the largest mass beachings recorded in New Zealand, where strandings are relatively common.

Lamason said 416 pilot whales beached themselves overnight at Farewell Spit in the Golden Bay region at the northern tip of South Island.

He said about 70 percent had perished and attempts were underway to get the remaining whales offshore at high tide but the outlook was gloomy.

&quot;With that number dead, you have to assume that the rest are in reasonably poor nick as well,&quot; he told Radio New Zealand.

&quot;So we&#39;re sort of preparing ourselves for a pretty traumatic period ahead.&quot;
<centre><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r6xIK9-K0pc" width="560"></iframe></centre>

&nbsp;

Pilot whales grow up to six metres (20 feet) long and are the most common species of whale in New Zealand waters.

&nbsp;

Farewell Spit, about 150 kilometres (95 miles) west of the tourist town of Nelson, has witnessed at least nine mass strandings of the species in the past decade, although the latest is by far the largest.

&nbsp;

Lamason said the reason the whales beached themselves was unknown but he believed it was partly due to the local geography.

&nbsp;

&quot;If you designed something to catch whales then Golden Bay is probably the perfect design,&quot; he said.

&nbsp;

&quot;Out at Farewell Spit it&#39;s a big massive sweeping hook of sand coming about, the bay is very shallow and once the whales get in there... it&#39;s very difficult to work out which way is out.&quot;

&nbsp;

WION correspondent Sana Khan filed a report on the sharp spike in whale, dolphin deaths. Read it&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/death-in-deep-blue-seas-sharp-spike-in-dolphin-whale-deaths-6663">here</a>.

&nbsp;

(AFP)

&nbsp;

Spokesman for the Department of Conservation said it was one of the largest mass beachings recorded in New Zealand

More than 400 whales were stranded on a New Zealand beach Friday, with hundreds already dead as volunteers tried to refloat the survivors, the Department of Conservation said. Andrew Lamason, spokesman for the department, said it was one of the largest mass beachings recorded in New Zealand, where strandings are relatively common. Lamason said 416 pilot whales beached themselves overnight at Farewell Spit in the Golden Bay region at the northern tip of South Island. He said about 70 percent had perished and attempts were underway to get the remaining whales offshore at high tide but the outlook was gloomy. "With that number dead, you have to assume that the rest are in reasonably poor nick as well," he told Radio New Zealand. "So we're sort of preparing ourselves for a pretty traumatic period ahead." Pilot whales grow up to six metres (20 feet) long and are the most common species of whale in New Zealand waters. Farewell Spit, about 150 kilometres (95 miles) west of the tourist town of Nelson, has witnessed at least nine mass strandings of the species in the past decade, although the latest is by far the largest. Lamason said the reason the whales beached themselves was unknown but he believed it was partly due to the local geography. "If you designed something to catch whales then Golden Bay is probably the perfect design," he said. "Out at Farewell Spit it's a big massive sweeping hook of sand coming about, the bay is very shallow and once the whales get in there... it's very difficult to work out which way is out." WION correspondent Sana Khan filed a report on the sharp spike in whale, dolphin deaths. Read it here. (AFP)

Hundreds of whales wash up dead on New Zealand beach

Some seventy dead whales have been found in southern Chile less than a year after more than 330 whales washed up in a remote Patagonian inlet. 
 
The animals are not of the same species discovered in last December&#39;s die-off, the biggest single event of its kind known to science, the Chilean fisheries service said. 
 
&quot;They are smaller than those we saw last time,&quot; national fisheries director Jose Miguel Burgos said. 
 
Teams will inspect the relatively accessible site in the coming days, focusing on whether humans played a role in the whales&#39; deaths, he added. 
 
The animals died more than two months ago, the authorities said, adding that autopsies will probably still be possible as the cadavers remain intact. 
 
Although determining the cause of last December&#39;s mass beaching presented challenges because of the delicate remains&#39; state of decomposition, scientists pinpointed the most likely culprit as &quot;red tide&quot;, a harmful algal bloom. 
 
(AFP)

The animals are not of the same species discovered in last December's die-off, the biggest single event of its kind known to science

Some seventy dead whales have been found in southern Chile less than a year after more than 330 whales washed up in a remote Patagonian inlet. The animals are not of the same species discovered in last December's die-off, the biggest single event of its kind known to science, the Chilean fisheries service said. "They are smaller than those we saw last time," national fisheries director Jose Miguel Burgos said. Teams will inspect the relatively accessible site in the coming days, focusing on whether humans played a role in the whales' deaths, he added. The animals died more than two months ago, the authorities said, adding that autopsies will probably still be possible as the cadavers remain intact. Although determining the cause of last December's mass beaching presented challenges because of the delicate remains' state of decomposition, scientists pinpointed the most likely culprit as "red tide", a harmful algal bloom. (AFP)

70 dead whales found in southern Chile

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