Marine Mammals

September, 2008

• 6 September

  Mediterranean Monk Seal Spotted Swimming around Island of Mamula

  

  (From visit-montenegro.com) Adriatic Sea- Owner of the picnic-boat “Boki” and his passengers spotted a rare mammal which reminded them of a sea lion yesterday. Institute for Marine Biology states this animal was a Mediterranean monk seal, a very rare and highly endangered species. I appeal to everyone not to touch it …
• 5 September

  Acoustic system saves manatees

  

  (From livescience.com)- According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, locks or gates caused at least 191 manatee deaths statewide since 1974. Now researchers at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University have developed and improved upon a unique acoustic system designed to keep manatees from being injured …
• 5 September

  Large dead sperm whale found off Menorcan coast

  

  (From thinkspain.com)- An eight-metre long sperm whale weighing around five tonnes was found floating off the south coast of Menorca this morning. It was spotted by the crew of a regional coastal cleaning vessel roughly one nautical mile from the Es Canutells area. It is thought that the whale may …
• 5 September

  Mysterious dolphin die-off worries scientists

  

  (From news-journalonline.com)- Since mid-May, 46 bottlenose dolphins have stranded themselves and died on beaches throughout the Indian River Lagoon, alarming scientists who say that”s six more dolphins than they usually find in an entire year.  In 2001, 34 dolphins stranded. Two years earlier, 100,000 horseshoe crabs died. Most of the …
• 5 September

  Pygmy Killer Whale Dies At Sarasota Marine Hospital

  

  (From 2.tbo.com)- A pygmy killer whale undergoing rehabilitation at a Sarasota dolphin and whale hospital has died. Since arriving June 16 at the hospital, Dallas the whale was being treated for several health issues, including digestive problems and pneumonia.Just before dying, Dallas was exhibiting typical behaviors including feeding, swimming and …
• 4 September

  Three Arctic Seal Species Advance Toward Endangered Species Act Protection

  

  (From biologicaldiversity.org) San Francisco- In response to a scientific petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, the federal government announced today it was launching a full status review to determine whether three ice-dependent seal species that inhabit Alaskan waters warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. This is the …
• 4 September

  Mystery surrounds death of porpoise found at Cooden Beach

  (From bexhillobserver.net) England- Mystery surrounds the death of a porpoise washed up on the beach just west of the Cooden Beach Hotel. Rother District Council contacted Bexhill Coastguard just after 11.30 this morning after a call from a member of public. They found young mammal at the water line. Porpoises …
• 4 September

  Taiwanese dolphin added to protected list

  

  (From iar.org.uk)- Canadian researchers have convinced authorities to add Taiwan”s pink dolphins to the critically endangered section of the IUCN”s Red List. Biologist Bradley White said that he hoped the findings – and the mammals” inclusion in the new IUCN Red List – would help efforts to conserve the animals.
• 4 September

  Davao fisherman saves beached whale shark from slaughter

  

  (From newsinfo.inquirer.net)- The provincial fisheries office said the 15-feet-long whale shark (Rhincodon typus) was found by fisherman Bert Geqa near his banca in Barangay (village) Paligue here around 2 a.m. It weighed about one ton according to Carlito Acao of the provincial fisheries office. Geqa said his fellow fishermen tried …
• 4 September

  Judge leans toward government in sea lion dispute

  

  (From www.katu.com)- Portland, Ore. – A federal judge said Wednesday he is inclined to side with the government on the issue of whether it can kill up to 85 sea lions a year at Bonneville Dam beginning next spring to reduce salmon predation. The Humane Society and others quickly sued …
• 4 September

  NZ hunt underway for seal-killing dogs

  

  (From news.smh.com.au)- A hunt is underway in New Zealand for a pack of dogs that savaged and ate alive 19 seal pups in two attacks on a beach on the north island. Jonathan Maxwell, Department of Conservation Kaitaia manager, said his staff had checked the seals at Shipwreck Bay, Ahipara, …
• 3 September

  Dolphin hunting protests at Japanese embassy in Britain

  

  (From afp.google.com) London- Environmental campaigners demonstrated outside the Japanese embassy here Wednesday against what they called the country”s “appallingly cruel” hunting of dolphins. Campaign Whale and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) said the hunts include pods of dolphins driven into shallow coves by fishermen and hacked to death. They also …