The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has expressed concern over a worrying increase in reports of dead common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) around the Irish coast during the first two months of 2018.According to the figures on the group's website 2017 was a record year for cetacean strandings in Ireland, with 263 validated stranding records (of all species) documented over the … [Read more...] about Huge spike in common dolphin deaths around Ireland
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Why you should visit a dead whale
In this guest post marine biology student Sean O'Callaghan, a keen cetacean enthusiast and admin of the popular Kerry's Wild Side page on Facebook, explores some of the benefits of visiting a dead whale.Visiting a dead whale may appear on the surface to be a morbid proposition, but there are many positives that outweigh the obvious concern; that being a large … [Read more...] about Why you should visit a dead whale
Female killer whale washed up in Co. Waterford
The unusual stranding of a 5 metre female killer whale on the beach at Saleen, near Tramore in Co. Waterford on Friday (30/01/2015) has been in the news this weekend.The whale, which was dead when it washed up, was said to be in "very fresh condition", according to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). The whale's teeth were very badly worn, leading some … [Read more...] about Female killer whale washed up in Co. Waterford
IWDG calls for clarity following Donegal live stranding
In the wake of the unfortunate live stranding of 13 long-finned pilot whales in Co. Donegal last week, The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) -- a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to whale and dolphin research and conservation -- has called for clarity from state agencies in terms of which authority has responsibility for managing live-stranding events around the Irish … [Read more...] about IWDG calls for clarity following Donegal live stranding
Pilot whales strand on Donegal beach
Four of thirteen pilot whales that stranded overnight on a beach in Co. Donegal have died. The other nine have been successfully re-floated by a local rescue effort that involved up to 100 people at its peak according to reports.The whales were spotted on Ballyness beach at Falcarragh, Co Donegal at 8am this morning."It's not something you want to see everyday," local … [Read more...] about Pilot whales strand on Donegal beach
IWDG expresses concern over dolphin by-catch
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has expressed concern at the possibility of what it describes as a "significant bycatch" of dolphins in Irish waters by foreign fishing vessels.Autopsy results on five of a group of 13 common dolphins that washed up dead in Co. Mayo in late January have confirmed that the animals died through injuries consistent with entanglement in … [Read more...] about IWDG expresses concern over dolphin by-catch
Mass stranding of dead dolphins in Mayo
A report from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has confirmed that eight (8) dead common dolphins Delphinus delphis have been discovered washed up on the beaches of Achill Island, Co. Mayo over recent days, with unconfirmed reports of at least another one dolphin on a nearby island."The IWDG don't have full details to hand as yet but photos sent to us by local people show … [Read more...] about Mass stranding of dead dolphins in Mayo
Baltimore whale stranding: a good news story?
I was getting settled at my desk yesterday morning, pondering what to write for my Irish Independent wildlife column, when the phone beeped. It was a message from Padraig Whooley, sightings coordinator with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, telling me that a suspected fin whale had live-stranded in Baltimore, West Cork. He'd be passing my house in a quarter of an hour if I … [Read more...] about Baltimore whale stranding: a good news story?
Fin whale stranding in Baltimore
A fin whale live stranded in Baltimore, West Cork this morning. The whale, an adult estimated to be between 45-50 foot long, was spotted in the harbour by locals early this morning.It live stranded in shallow water between the pantoon and the pier. By mid morning the whale had attracted a sizeable crowd and the Irish Whale an Dolphin Group (IWDG), National Parks and … [Read more...] about Fin whale stranding in Baltimore
Stranding: learning from the death of a harbour porpoise
It was Sunday morning, and it was raining. Not just any kind of rain... it was that sneaky, endemically Irish drizzle that saturates you before you realise you’re getting wet. It was misery incarnate. Miserable or not, we had a job to do. I grabbed the gear, threw it in the car and off we went. We only had a quarter of an hour drive to the small inlet on the West Cork coast. … [Read more...] about Stranding: learning from the death of a harbour porpoise
Sperm whale live strands in South East
A 10 metre long adult male sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) has live stranded at Cunniger spit, Nr. Dungarvan, Co. Waterford today. A flurry of phone calls yesterday evening (18/08) first alerted the IWDG to the presence of a large whale in some difficulty off the east side of the Hook Head peninsula in Co. Wexford. The IWDG confirmed from photographs that the animal, … [Read more...] about Sperm whale live strands in South East
2 pilot whales dead in South Uist; main group moves to deeper water
Marine mammal rescuers in the Hebrides have confirmed the death of 2 long finned pilot whales at Loch Carnan, South Uist. The whales were part of a large group of around 60 whales that prompted fears of a mass stranding in the loch late last week. The main pod now appears to have moved out of the loch into deeper water.The body of the first whale was found and recovered on … [Read more...] about 2 pilot whales dead in South Uist; main group moves to deeper water
Mass stranding alert as pilot whales congregate in Scottish Loch
Concerns are growing regarding a potential mass stranding by a pod to 100 pilot whales off South Uist in the Western Isles. British marine wildlife bodies are on the scene monitoring the whales. According to reports the the pod was first sighted in Loch Carnan on the afternoon of Thursday 19 May. About 20 of the animals are reported to have head injuries, leading to … [Read more...] about Mass stranding alert as pilot whales congregate in Scottish Loch
