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Japan added fin whales to a catch list that already includes minke, Bryde's and sei whales (Stock image)

Japan whale hunt to include second-largest species

Japan has expanded its commercial whaling to include fin whales, the second-largest animal species on the planet, a decision criticised by Australia's government.

World • 01 Aug 24

A breaching Northern bottlenose whale in Bantry Bay, Co Cork (Pic: Aoife Curran)

Breaching whales delight onlookers in Bantry Bay

Holidaymakers in Co Cork have been enjoying one of nature's greatest spectacles - whales breaching a little more than a stone's throw from the shore.

Ireland • 21 Aug 23

Drone footage captured yesterday showed a group of 20 animals in the approaches to the Waterford Estuary near Arthurstown. (Courtesy: Damien Burke)

Whale pod seen near Waterford Estuary may now be at sea

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group says there have been no further sightings of a pod of long-finned pilot whales off the Co Wexford coast following an initial search this morning.

Ireland • 20 Jun 23

Dan Lettice has been filming the humpback whale in Tragumna Bay, near Gokane Point (Courtesy: Dan Lettice/Into the Wild Ireland)

Drone footage shows humpback whale pooing off west Cork

An amateur wildlife photographer has captured some unusual and unexpected drone footage - the bowel movements of a humpback whale off the west Cork coast.

Biodiversity • 24 May 23

Whales are seen beached along the shoreline at Ocean Beach, Tasmania (Pic: Huon Aquaculture)

Rescue bid as hundreds of whales stranded in Tasmania

Marine conservation experts were rushing to the Australian state of Tasmania today to try and rescue a pod of about 230 whales stranded on the west coast.

World • 21 Sep 22

Examination of the whale's carcass at the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Cork (Picture: Dr Simon Berrow, IWDG)

Confirmation of new whale species to Ireland

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has confirmed the identification of a new whale species to Ireland.

Environment and Nature • 17 May 22

Locals surround a dead pilot whale on a beach in Panadura, Sri Lanka

Over 100 stranded whales rescued in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's navy has said more than 100 whales have been rescued after becoming stranded on a beach on the island's southwest coast.

World • 03 Nov 20

An operation to deal with the carcasses could take days

Hopes fade for whales as Australia disposal plans begin

Australian officials have begun planning the grim task of disposing of almost 400 whale carcasses as hopes faded there would be many more survivors of one of the world's biggest mass strandings of the mammals.

World • 24 Sep 20

Marine rescue teams attempt to help save hundreds of pilot whales stranded on a sand bar

Rescuers race to save 180 stranded whales in Australia

Up to 90 whales have died after becoming stranded in a remote bay in southern Australia, with rescuers warning the mission to save another 180 still stuck will prove "challenging".

World • 22 Sep 20

Image: Nicola Coyle/Irish Whale and Dolphin Group

Seven whales die after stranding at Donegal beach

Seven whales out of a group of eight that became stranded on a beach in Co Donegal have died, according to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.

Ulster • 20 Aug 20

The whales have spent the last ten days within a few miles of the shore (Photos courtesy of Nick Massett, IWDG)

Feeding frenzy for humpback whales off Kerry coast

Whale watchers have been witnessing spectacular scenes in recent days as humpback whales engage in a feeding frenzy off the Kerry coast.

Munster • 19 Aug 20

The Sowerby's beaked whale thrives in deep water
(Pics: Irish Whale and Dolphin Group)

Distressed whale dies in Wicklow harbour

A distressed whale has died in Wicklow harbour after it became trapped and got into difficulty.

Ireland • 04 Jul 20

Humpback whale rescued from illegal net off Mexico

Activists rescued a humpback whale on Friday that had been caught in illegal fishing nets in Mexico's upper Sea of Cortes.

News Lens • 25 Feb 20

Grey whales have the longest migration of any mammal

Drone footage captures migrating whales off California

A drone operator recorded stunning footage of six grey whales off Newport Beach, California yesterday, during their annual migration down to the warm lagoons in Baja California, Mexico.

News Lens • 23 Jan 20

Fishermen peel the skin off a Baird's beaked whale at Wada Port, in Chiba Prefecture, Japan in 2009

A history of whaling in Japan

Japan has conducted its first commercial whale hunts in more than three decades, dismissing international outrage over its decision to resume a practice that activists call inhumane and obsolete.

News Lens • 01 Jul 19

A minke whale was landed shortly after whaling resumed

Japan resumes commercial whaling

Five small ships sailed out of harbour this morning in Japan's first commercial whale hunt in more than three decades, a move that has aroused global condemnation and fears for the fate of whales.

News Lens • 01 Jul 19

Dozens of whales are being kept in cramped conditions

Russia orders release of orcas, belugas in 'whale jail'

Russian authorities have ordered the release of nearly 100 whales held captive in cages in Russia's Far East in a case that has drawn the ire of President Vladimir Putin, the public and international film stars.

News Lens • 01 Mar 19

The withdrawal means Japan joins Iceland and Norway in openly defying the IWC's ban on commercial whale hunting

Japan to resume commercial whaling after IWC withdrawal

Japan is withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission and will resume commercial whaling next year, a government spokesman has said, in a move expected to spark international criticism.

World • 26 Dec 18

Hundreds of whales were stranded since Friday

NZ beached whale crisis over, say rescuers

Whale rescuers are cautiously optimistic that the current wave of mass beachings in New Zealand is over, after hundreds of the creatures died after being stranded ashore.

News • 12 Feb 17

The pilot whale stranding is the largest in New Zealand since 1985

Fresh whale stranding on New Zealand beach

Whale rescuers in New Zealand have linked arms in neck-deep water to try and prevent about 200 pilot whales from stranding themselves again in a remote bay, where 300 of the animals died this week.

News • 11 Feb 17

Cause of the stranding at Golden Bay not known

Race to rescue whales stranded on NZ beach

Rescuers are trying to save scores of pilot whales in a remote bay in New Zealand, where 300 carcasses littered the beach after one of the country's largest recorded mass whale strandings.

News • 10 Feb 17

A Japanese whaling ship leaves the port of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi prefecture, western Japan

Japanese fleet resumes Antarctic whaling mission

A Japanese whaling fleet set sail for the Antarctic today after a one-year pause, with environmentalists criticising the move as a "crime against nature".

World • 01 Dec 15

Local media said Japanese whalers were expected to depart for the ocean possibly by the end of December

Japan to resume whaling after UN suspension ends

Japan will resume "research" whaling in the Antarctic by the end of March next year despite a call by global regulators for more evidence that the expeditions have a scientific purpose.

World • 28 Nov 15

Several of the melon-headed whales had been badly cut

More than 130 dolphins beach in Japan

More than 130 melon-headed whales, a member of the dolphin family usually found in the deep ocean, beached in Japan this morning.

News • 10 Apr 15

A total of 13 whales became stranded on the beach on Monday

Whales refloated despite advice to let them die

Members of the public have returned two pilot whales that had beached in Co Donegal to the sea, despite requests yesterday to allow them to die naturally.

News • 09 Jul 14