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Marinemammals

All articles tagged with #marinemammals

Unveiling the Tale of Russia's Misunderstood 'Spy Whale'

Originally Published 1 year ago — by BBC.com

A beluga whale named Hvaldimir, which appeared off the coast of Norway in 2019 wearing a harness, was believed to have escaped from a Russian military program, according to marine scientist Dr. Olga Shpak. While initially speculated to be a spy, Dr. Shpak suggests the whale was trained to guard a naval base but fled due to its playful nature. Despite Russia's denial of training the whale, satellite images suggest the presence of belugas near Russian military sites. Hvaldimir's body was found in 2024, with a post-mortem revealing death by a lodged stick, dismissing theories of foul play.

world environment belugawhale environment hvaldimir marinemammals norway russianmilitary

"Rising Concern: 37th North Atlantic Right Whale Found Dead near Martha's Vineyard"

Originally Published 1 year ago — by USA TODAY

An endangered juvenile right whale was found dead off Martha's Vineyard, entangled in a rope, marking the second tragedy for the critically endangered species this month. With only 356 estimated right whales remaining, human-related deaths from fishing gear entanglements and boat strikes pose significant threats to their survival. Efforts to protect the whales, including on-demand fishing gear and speed limits, have faced controversy and delays, while advocacy groups emphasize the urgent need for stronger protection to prevent the species from plunging toward extinction.

nation environment conservation endangeredspecies environment marinemammals rightwhales wildlifeprotection