Whales & Dolphins (& Porpoises)
“No other predator is able to challenge them” – this deadly, intelligent ocean killer works in a team to stun, submerge and launch at its prey
This intelligent marine mammal gets its name from the Roman god of the underworld – a reference to its fierce hunting reputation
How do whales breastfeed underwater?
Do whales produce milk? Do whales have nipples? How does it all work underwater? Read on to find out all the whale nursing facts you've been wondering about.
What exactly is echolocation and how does it work? The incredible adaptation that allows animals to ‘see’ and communicate in the dark
Discover how animals use echolocation to navigate, hunt, identify other species and avoid obstacles.
How to identify mammal bones on the seashore
Mammal expert Steve Harris discusses which mammal bones you might find washed ashore, and how to identify them.
Mysterious Risso's dolphins are finally revealing their secrets in the Balearic Islands
Risso’s dolphins are rare and little is known about them, but conservationists are trying to learn more about them off the Balearic Islands
Humpback whale guide: where they live, what they eat, how big they are and why they are called humpback
Learn all humpback whales, giant sirens of the sea - from where they live to what they eat, and why they don't have teeth
Have whales recovered since the whaling moratorium?
A moratorium on commercial whaling was introduced, and widely implemented, in the 1980s in a bid to stop the decline in whale populations – but did it work?
Why is whale poo good for the planet?
We don’t often think of whales defecating, but we should – their faeces have a vitally important part to play in the ecosystem of our oceans.
Breeding ‘song’ of scarce whale recorded for the first time
The sei whale is the third-largest marine mammal, but its calls are seldom heard.
Whales, dolphins and porpoises of the UK guide: which species to look out for, how to identify, and where to see them
Watching whales, dolphins and porpoises in their natural habitat, the ocean where they belong, is a wonderful experience. In the waters surrounding the UK at least 28 of the globally recognized species have been spotted.
Big benefits for whales from their big appetites
World’s biggest cetaceans eat more than previously thought, highlighting their role in maintaining productive oceans.
24 of the new species discovered in 2021
Discover some of the new species around the world that have been recently discovered by scientists, from a tiny chameleon to a spider named after Greta Thunberg
Mysterious orcas spotted in Norway reveal significant insight
For the first time ever, a match has been made between orcas photographed in Scotland and in Norway.
Episode Nine: In The Field: A lifetime photographing whales, dolphins and porpoises
In the ninth episode of BBC Wildlife Magazine's Photography Masterclass, presenter Mark Carwardine shares some of his favourite images taken over a lifetime at sea.
When is Fathom on TV?
In this new documentary on Apple TV+, we follow two scientists as they study humpback whale songs across opposite sides of the world and try to answer the questions that 50 years of research has not been able to answer.
When is Secrets of the Whales on TV?
James Cameron and Signourney Weaver take us on a breath-taking dive into whale behaviour in this new National Geographic series on Disney Plus.
Analysis of skulls reveals that river dolphins in South Asia are two separate species
Following two decades of research, a landmark study has concluded that the endangered Indus and Ganges river dolphins are actually separate species.
Research into ‘pingers’ to stop cetacean bycatch shows they are effective
Accidental entanglement of cetaceans is reduced with acoustic alarms on fishing nets.
Comeback for humpback whales
The western South Atlantic humpback whale population has grown to 25,000, close to pre-whaling numbers.
Young porpoises in the UK are ingesting toxic milk
Research shows that juvenile harbour porpoises are being exposed to a ‘toxic cocktail’ of chemicals when they feed from their mother.
Famous dolphin secures a Guinness World Record
Ireland’s Fungie is the oldest solitary dolphin in the world.
Drones used to weigh whales
Aerial images enable researchers to determine the body mass of whales.
When are Blue Planet Live and Blue Planet UK on TV?
Return to the oceans with these new BBC programmes celebrating the marine wildlife of our beautiful blue planet.
Record number of whale and dolphin sightings in 2018
The National Whale and Dolphin Watch reports its highest ever total number of cetacean sightings for the 2018 survey.