A North Atlantic right whale has been confirmed dead off the remote barrier island on Virginia’s eastern coast. The deceased is a 3-year-old female calf born to Porcia in 2023. With only approximately 340 individuals remaining globally, the North Atlantic right whale is classified as critically endangered. This marks the second death of the species…

A new report reveals that Chilean waters rank among the world’s highest for fatal ship-whale collisions, primarily concentrated along shipping routes near the ports of Valparaíso and San Antonio. These routes traverse areas of high whale density, and vessels typically travel at high speeds (exceeding 15 knots), significantly increasing collision risks. Endangered species such as…

A recent study published in Nature reveals that melting Arctic sea ice has led to increased vessel traffic, raising underwater noise levels by 30%. This significantly disrupts communication, navigation, and foraging among marine mammals such as whales. Species like fin whales and bowhead whales, which rely on sound for orientation, face survival challenges. Noise pollution…

The carcass of a Bryde’s whale, approximately 12 meters long and weighing around 20 tons, was discovered on the coast of Kendrapara in India’s Odisha state. Preliminary observations indicate the whale suffered severe injuries from a vessel collision, with extensive blunt force trauma to the head and right side of the body, along with multiple…

France’s last two captive orcas—23-year-old Wikie (the first orca known to “speak”) and her 11-year-old son Keijo—have been trapped in algae-covered, muddy pools for over 12 months since Antibes Marine Park permanently closed on January 5, 2025. On January 14, 2026, reports indicate that amid sustained pressure from animal welfare organizations, the French government is…

A 9.1-meter juvenile humpback whale stranded and died in Delaware waters. The necropsy report revealed severe comminuted fractures in the whale’s mandible and extensive subcutaneous hemorrhages and contusions distributed across its torso. These injury characteristics strongly correspond to damage caused by high-speed vessel impact, ultimately confirming vessel collision as the cause of death.

has seen a sharp increase in deaths among small cetaceans like dolphins along the coasts of Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, and other nations. Hundreds of carcasses have been discovered in some areas, with mortality rates rising 3 to 5 times higher than pre-war levels. Suspected causes include multiple factors such as military activities, marine pollution,…

The abnormal deaths of cetaceans in the Black Sea continue to escalate. Multiple coastal nations including Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania have observed a sharp increase in the mortality of small cetaceans such as dolphins. Mortality rates have risen 3-5 times compared to pre-war levels, with hundreds of dolphin carcasses discovered in some areas. Multiple…

A lawsuit filed by Sea Shepherd has formally charged Faroese whalers with illegal activities. The organization documented whalers persistently harming a group of exhausted pilot whales and stranding some on shallow shoals—actions violating local laws. The whaling authority has now announced a suspension of all pilot whale hunting in the northern islands during the case…

Research findings indicate that scientists from institutions including New Zealand’s Massey University and Australia’s University of Technology Sydney analyzed liver samples from 127 stranded whales and dolphins. They discovered that more than a dozen species of coastal and deep-sea cetaceans—including New Zealand’s endemic Maui’s dolphin—contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), classified as “persistent chemicals.” These…