Latest news with #JohanBryde
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Elusive sea creature seen on Canada coast. See why officials are ‘deeply concerned'
An elusive whale recently washed ashore in Canada, leaving local officials 'deeply concerned.' The deceased marine mammal was found on Port McNeill Bay — located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia — on May 14, according to a news release from the 'Namgis First Nation, a local government office. In photos, it can be seen laying on its stomach amid a vast stretch of wet sand. Its mouth was agape, revealing rows of white bristles. The creature was initially thought to be a Minke whale, but officials at the site later confirmed it was a young Bryde's whale — 'a species rarely seen in these northern waters.' Bay Cetology, a conservation non-profit that helped identify the whale, described the animal in a Facebook post as 'a very unusual visitor.' The organization added that, 'This is British Columbia's first record of a Bryde's whale that we are aware of.' As a result, officials said they were disturbed by the finding. 'The Nation is deeply concerned by the death of any whale, but the rarity of this species appearing so far north makes this event particularly significant,' 'Namgis First Nation said. Officials were dispatched to the site to educate onlookers and to ensure the carcass was treated with respect. A necropsy was conducted May 16, but the cause of death has not been revealed, according to the Whale Interpretive Center, another conservation non-profit, which described the finding as 'a surprise.' Bryde's whales — pronounced 'broodus' — are a baleen species named after Johan Bryde, an early 20th century whaler, according to the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA). The animals, which can grow up to 55 feet and weigh up to 90,000 pounds, are typically found throughout warmer parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. 'They are rarely seen in waters north of 35° latitude,' according to 'Namgis First Nation, which is 'roughly the same latitude as Los Angeles, California.' This means the recently discovered whale was found about 1,000 miles outside the species' typical range. The solitary creatures consume upwards of 1,000 pounds of food per day, with their diet largely consisting of shrimp, krill, crabs and schooling fish, according to NOAA. The population of the species is unknown becuase of a lack of data, and the species is protected throughout its range by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Miami Herald
24-04-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Rarely seen sea creatures spotted swimming and foraging off Thailand, video shows
A pair of Bryde's whales were recently spotted off the coast of Thailand, delighting conservation officials. The large marine mammals — which are infrequently observed in Thai waters — were seen on April 19 in the Mu Ko Chumphon National Park, according to a news release from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The park comprises a group of islands in the Gulf of Thailand, located about 300 miles south of Bangkok. The first whale was glimpsed by members of a park patrol unit around 10:30 a.m. They noticed it swimming, playing and foraging for food. Only an hour later, another patrol unit spotted a different Bryde's whale swimming near Ko Mattra, a small island a few miles from the mainland. Video footage shows one whale — with its distinctive dorsal fin — breaching the surface. The other whale can be seen filter feeding while birds flutter around nearby. The twin sightings are a positive sign, indicating the health of the park's marine ecosystem, the release said. Several other sightings of the species have been made in Thai waters in recent months, according to previous reporting by McClatchy News. Bryde's whales — pronounced 'broodus' — are a member of the baleen family, which also includes gray whales and pygmy right whales, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They're named after Johan Bryde, an early 20th-century Norwegian whaler. They are found throughout warm stretches of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, with some populations migrating short distances between seasons. The massive creatures — which can weigh 90,000 pounds and measure 55 feet — have sleek, dark bodies and slender, pointed flippers. Little is known about their population status, and they are considered vulnerable to ocean noise, ship strikes and whaling in some areas, according to NOAA. Around 100 Bryde's whales have been documented in the Gulf of Thailand, according to the Bangkok Post. The Thai government lists the species as protected, according to The Guardian — and they are also protected throughout their range by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Google Translate was used to translate a news release from the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
