For Killer Whales, Saddle Patches are Like Fingerprints
Each killer whale has a distinct pattern of pigmentation behind its dorsal fin. How do these patterns vary around the world?
Nov 29, 2024 | seven-panel comic
Species: Marine Mammals
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Article list
Crafting the Perfect Poo
Scientists are working to emulate whale waste, which they say could fertilize the ocean and sequester carbon.
Nov 8, 2024 | 1,200 words, about 6 minutes
The Coming Collision Between Whales and Tankers on British Columbia’s Coast
Decades after they were hunted to local extinction, fin whales are recovering in the Kitimat fjord system—only to be threatened by a booming LNG industry.
Oct 15, 2024 | 5,300 words, about 26 minutes
Weather Forecasting Is Deadly for Marine Wildlife
Latex balloons designed to collect high-altitude data become a threat to marine animals after they burst—though the scale of their impact remains unknown.
Oct 11, 2024 | 950 words, about 4 minutes
The Poachers Who Could Save Mexico’s Vaquita
Vaquita have long been collateral damage for Mexico’s totoaba fishers, but conservationists believe there’s a solution. The only hitch? It’s illegal.
Sep 24, 2024 | 3,700 words, about 18 minutes
Whales May Be Communicating Across Vast Distances
Researchers have long suspected that bowhead whales keep in touch from far away. New evidence of synchronized diving between two whales 100 kilometers apart supports the theory.
Sep 20, 2024 | 1,000 words, about 5 minutes
In Graphic Detail: Whaling in Japan
After decades of controversy, Japan resumes the commercial harvest of fin whales.
Aug 28, 2024 | 450 words, about 2 minutes
The Long Road to Ropeless Fishing
The first step to overcoming fishers' resistance to the new conservation-focused technology is building trust.
Aug 21, 2024 | 1,100 words, about 5 minutes