Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Whale stranded off Germany swims to freedom after days of efforts to save it

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:35:13 +0000

Rescuers used boats and excavators to try to guide 10-metre long sea mammal to deeper waters

A humpback whale stranded on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast since early this week has freed itself and swum into deeper waters, rescuers said on Friday.

A flotilla of vessels were following the weakened animal at a distance, hoping to help guide it into the North Sea and toward the Atlantic Ocean, its natural habitat.

Scientists film whale giving birth while other whales work together to help her

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:13:07 +0000

Female named Rounder surrounded by family members when about to give birth to her second calf

Scientists have managed to film a sperm whale giving birth while other female whales worked together to support the mother and her newborn.

A team from Project Ceti, an international effort seeking to understand how whales communicate, was in a boat near a pod of 11 whales off the coast of the Caribbean island of Dominica on 8 July 2023.

Striking it licky: rare tongue-shaped fungus found for first time in UK

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:41:16 +0000

Blue-based earthtongue specimen discovered in West Sussex nature reserve is only second recorded in Europe

The discovery of a rare, tongue-shaped fungus is being hailed as a sign of the crucial ecological value of England’s national nature reserves.

Never before recorded in the UK, the blue-based earthtongue, also known as Microglossum cyanobasis, was found sprouting at the Kingley Vale national nature reserve in West Sussex.

Wily coyote? Urban canines take more risks compared with rural ones, study finds

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:00:03 +0000

Researchers believe behavioral gap, which may hold true across species, is probably product of less fear of harassment in cities

Anyone who has lived long enough in a city can tell you – with time, you just stop noticing strange new things. A unicycling bagpiper. A person changing clothes on the subway. Murals that transform streets into art.

Is foraging really feasible to feed myself?

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:00:04 +0000

This labor-intensive way of eating isn’t for everyone – and I’m not sure it’s for me. It requires planning and flexibility

When I called Robin Greenfield, an environmental activist and author, his assistant answered. “We’re stopped really quick,” Marielle said, adding “he is harvesting a ton of wild onions right now. He’ll be on in just a minute.”

Week in wildlife: a flying rodent, a duty-free possum and an emerald viper

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:00:02 +0000

This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world

Beavers ‘breathe new life’ into Dorset as dams built and biodiversity returns

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:00:06 +0000

National Trust says one year after reintroduction they are enriching habitats and may be having kits this summer

They were released this time last year with fanfare, much hope and also, perhaps, a little trepidation.

Twelve months on, there have been ups and downs for the first beavers to be (officially) reintroduced into the wild in England since the semiaquatic mammals were hunted to extinction 400 years ago.

More than 6m vapes and pods discarded weekly in UK despite single-use ban, study finds

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:00:05 +0000

Number fell 23% year on year in 2025 but waste companies say recycling systems still under strain from sheer volume

More than 6m vapes and vape pods are still being discarded every week in the UK, with waste management companies warning the sheer volume continues to strain recycling systems despite the ban on disposable e-cigarettes.

Antarctic Sanctuary: fishing effort responses to an international MPA in the Southern Ocean

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

npj Ocean Sustainability, Published online: 27 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44183-026-00193-2

Antarctic Sanctuary: fishing effort responses to an international MPA in the Southern Ocean

Freshwater fish populations plunge 81% as river migrations collapse

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 01:51:08 +0000

A sweeping global report finds that migratory freshwater fish are in steep decline, with populations down roughly 81% since 1970. These species depend on long, connected rivers, but dams and human pressures are cutting off their routes. Hundreds of species now need coordinated international protection. Experts say restoring river connectivity is critical to preventing further collapse.