Here Is (a Drawing GIF of) the World's First Picture of Humpback Whales Humping, Tenderly
For the first time in the history of humping whales, a photographer has captured an act of copulation between two humpback whales.
Why Not Listen to Some Whale Songs for Science?
Forget Spotify, all the cool kids are jamming to sweet, soothing whale songs the Whale Song Project (Whale.fm.) Whale.fm is a joint project of Scientific American and the Citizen Science Alliance, which asks internet users like you to listen to whale songs in a massive database then match them up with similar-sounding…
PETA Files Whale Slavery Lawsuit Against SeaWorld
PETA has filed a lawsuit charging SeaWorld with violating the 13th Amendment by enslaving killer whales. This could be interesting.
The Mystery of the New Jersey Whale Murderer
A whale that washed up on the Jersey shore recently wasn't killed by natural causes. It was... murder! Whale murder! Now authorities are on the hunt for the shadowy cetacean slayer.
Sperm Whales Might Have Names
It is rare that our imagination syncs up with science, so we are particularly psyched to learn of new research suggesting that sperm whales, when they click at each other, "announce themselves with discrete personal identifier[s]." Yes! That's right: Sperm whales have names.
Yes, Whales Get Sunburned
Whales off the Mexican coast are getting sunburned, possibly because of damage to the ozone layer. Said one scientist: "Humans can put on clothes or sunglasses - whales can't." Haha, a whale with sunglasses! What were we talking about again?
Beached Pilot Whales Being Trucked to Calmer Waters in New Zealand
On Wednesday, 80 pilot whales become stranded on a beach in New Zealand and 50 of them died on the first day. Today, rescuers are transporting the 24 surviving whales by truck to more sheltered waters 30 miles away.
Vladimir Putin Reaches Limit of Badassery By Shooting Whale with Crossbow
Vladimir Putin, the world's favorite He-man/Russian President shot a gray whale with a crossbow while riding in a rubber raft earlier today. This is getting ridiculous. How will he ever outdo himself now?
Whale Flails, Nails Frail Sail, Prevails, Bails
[South African sailors Paloma and Ralph Warner sure had a... "whale of a time"!!!!!! Get it?? Because, you see, a whale jumped on their boat. (The whale is doing okay.) Click for the aftermath. Capetown Sailing Academy via NYP.]
First Whale Dies in Gulf of Mexico Since BP Oil Spill
Scientists are studying the carcass of a 25-foot "sub-adult" sperm whale found in the Gulf of Mexico to see if it's oil spill-related. We all knew local wildlife would be devastated, but who knew it would all happen so fast?
Dead Whale Washes Up On Long Island
A dead baleen humpback whale calf washed ashore near Jones Beach State Park on Long Island Thursday morning showing signs of decomposition, leading park officials to believe it had died at sea. [LI Press; Getty]
LA Loses Last Bastion of Endangered Sushi
Riding high on Oscar glory, the brains behind dolphin hunting documentary The Cove, along with several federal agencies, busted Santa Monica hot-spot eatery The Hump for serving endangered Sei whale meat.
SeaWorld CEO Announces—Ohmigod Look Behind You!
SeaWorld President Jim Atchison is holding a press conference to discuss the tragic death of a trainer killed by an Orca. Atchison's podium was set up right in front of the killer whale tank, because he does not fear death. Updated with video:
Jack Hanna Likes Whales More Than He Likes You
In the wake of the killer whale catastrophe, intrepid soul Jack Hanna is prepared to go to the aquamat for that orca. On Larry King, Hanna vehemently fought the president of PETA to come to the whale's—and Seaworld's—defense.
When Animals Attempt to Have Sex With Humans
It's great to love your pet but sometimes when they love you back they take it a little too far.
This Day in Video History: A Whale Went 'Boom'
On November 12th, 1970 the Oregon Highway Division blew up a rotting beached sperm whale and things did not go exactly as planned.
"With just a few clicks you can help save Mister Splashy Pants and his friends: sign our petition calling upon the Japanese Fisheries Agency to promise not to kill Mister Splashy Pants." [Greenpeace] [Previously: Whale Naming Contest: "It's up to you to go vote for 'Mister Splashy Pants.'"]
Greenpeace is satellite tracking some whales for some sort of whale-saving purpose and they'd like you to help name them. They have a list of 29 incredibly twee names (Atticus! Jacques! Libertad!) and one awesome one, so it's up to you to go vote for "Mister Splashy Pants." [Greenpeace]
