Marine-Med: Marine Research, Epidemiology, and Veterinary Medicine

08/31/2024

Poor Hvaldimir has died. He was a beluga whale that fishermen, near Hammerfest in northern Norway, found in April 2019 swimming freely wearing a camera harness. He became well-known for his “friendliness” and curiosity towards humans. Hopefully a planned necropsy will shed light on what may have happened.

Storm (16) trodde først det var en båt som fløt i vannet, men det viste seg å være Hvaldimir, som nå er bekreftet død.

08/29/2024

Interesting new theory as to why orcas are ramming boats off Spain, Portugal, and North Africa. Any thoughts from the audience?

Researchers still don't know if the attacks are playful or malicious, but a new theory suggests they could be using boats as practice for hunting techniques.

07/27/2024

How do you feel about this?

The OCTOPUS Act would ban farming the animal, and imports of farmed meat. It was introduced by a senator whose office says he learned about the plan through a story on NPR.

07/24/2024

It was only a matter of time…

Sharks taken from the shores near Rio de Janeiro have tested for high levels of co***ne.

07/22/2024

Disheartening news.

A new $47m vessel is preparing for its maiden voyage in coastal waters, but there are fears the Kangei Maru could one day mean a return to hunting in the Southern Ocean

04/06/2024

Some updates on the 2 year old orca calf caught in an inlet in northwest Vancouver Island after her mother stranded and died 2 weeks ago while hunting for seals. Efforts are underway to capture the calf to remove her from the inlet and reunite her with her family.

The fate of the calf trapped in a British Columbia lagoon has gripped the public. Can Brave Little Hunter be reunited with her pod?

12/06/2023

An in depth article on Toki the orca who died last August at Miami Seaquarium while awaiting transfer to a sea pen here in the Pacific Northwest.

After half a century in a tank, the beloved orca Tokitae, also known as Lo**ta, was about to be freed. Then her life ended, and a moment of reckoning began.

10/19/2023

Toki’s necropsy summary findings came out today.

Results of the orca Tokitae's necropsy have been released. Toki's attending veterinarians have issued the following assessment.

10/06/2023

An article describing recent cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in local harbor seals.

The disease does have the potential to spread between animals and people and their pets. The risk of infection to the public is low, but NOAA advises staying 100 yards from seals, dead or alive.

09/22/2023

Toki is back home in the Pacific Northwest.

09/09/2023

Highly pathogenic avian influenza detected in seals in Puget Sound.

Test results confirm H5N1; officials urge beachgoers to avoid contact with wildlife.

08/24/2023

A thoughtful commentary

On Aug. 8, 1970, Tokitae was captured with about 90 other killer whales (as they were known at the time) at Penn Cove off Whidbey Island in Washington state.

08/19/2023

Very sad news today.

With heavy hearts and tears in our eyes Orca Network shares and confirms the news that Tokitae/ Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut/Lo**ta, passed away today at the Miami Seaquarium around 4 pm Eastern Time, surrounded by her loving care team and veterinarians, who did everything they could to save her after a very short illness. She developed a gastrointestinal issue two days ago for which she was receiving treatment, and then today suddenly developed acute renal failure and could not be saved despite the best efforts of the veterinary team. More information will be available in the coming days. For now, we ask for everyone's prayers and respect, while our Orca Network pod grieves for this huge loss.

One thing that brings us comfort is knowing that yesterday, as Toki began struggling and was on her journey home to the next world, her entire family was off the west side of San Juan Island in what these days is a rare gathering, with all three pods swimming up and down the island, socializing in a Superpod; and the L12s are still there today. This is often a cultural/social ritual to mark a significant event in their community, and we believe they were welcoming her home.

Toki is finally home, maybe not the way we wanted, but her family seems to know she is with them once again, in ways we may never comprehend.

A vigil in Tokitae’s memory will take place at the Langley Whale Center, 105 Anthes Avenue, Langley, WA, on Saturday, August 19, from 6-8pm.

Photo by Rachel Andersen, November 20, 2020

07/15/2023

A new updated website for Tokitae, the southern resident killer whale at the Miami Seaquarium. It includes more images and videos, a video statement from the lead vet on Toki’s health, an update on the progress to bring her to her home waters and substantially more information on Toki’s history as well as on Friends of Toki. Stay tuned for updates on this website as Toki and her care team progress along this journey.

Toki (Lo**ta) Toki is a Southern Resident Killer Whale who was captured from the waters in the Pacific Northwest when she was approximately four years old. Today, nearly 53 years later in a collaborative effort between Friends of Toki and the Miami Seaquarium, with the support of Jim Irsay, this unp...

07/11/2023

Colleagues on the east side of the Atlantic Ocean doing a great job! British Divers Marine Life Rescue

06/29/2023

Who knew?!

Striking similarities discovered between human and dolphin “motherese”

03/30/2023

The latest news on Toki, the last Pacific Northwest southern resident killer whale in captivity.

More than 50 years after she was captured in the Pacific Ocean, the Miami Seaquarium’s killer whale Lo**ta may finally be heading back to her home waters.

03/29/2023

An update on Tokitae at the Miami Seaquarium this Thursday morning 3/30, 11:30am EST.

03/05/2023

This is hopeful news! Long time in the making!

Negotiators from more than 100 countries completed a U.N. treaty to protect the high seas on Saturday, a long-awaited step that environmental groups say will help reverse marine biodiversity losses and ensure sustainable development.

02/04/2023

This recently published article, which is aimed at children and teenagers, is an interesting educational tool, providing some background information on marine mammal strandings and what to do/not do in case a stranded animal is found.

Have you ever heard about, or maybe even seen, a whale or a dolphin that was helplessly lying on the beach or stuck in very shallow water? These are called “stranding events” or “strandings,” and have been documented since the fourth century. Back then, strandings involving cetaceans (whales...