An old university friend co-authored this paper by Williams et al. on persistent organic pollutants found on #whales#Dolphins#Seals around the UK.
I remember talking with him about it a few years ago - great to see it out but goodness how depressing, really good science in a wel-surveyed population, makes me wonder about the #Cetaceans we don't know about?
Among #orcas stranded in the UK, levels of #PCBs, a group of highly dangerous and persistent chemicals that do not degrade easily, were 30 times the concentration at which the animals would begin to suffer health impacts, researchers said.
"Did you know whales are born tail first? They enter their water world being able to swim from day dot. From the moment they’re born, their first instinct is to swim to the surface for air.
While most enjoy the comforts of hanging out in mum’s tummy until she reaches warm northern Australian waters, some just can’t wait to enter the big blue.
Maori king declares whales are people in push for legal rights (www.thetimes.co.uk)
Whales will be recognised as legal persons under a declaration signed by New Zealand’s Maori king and native leaders across the Pacific....