I don't want to enter a title but tumblr makes me.

jenrichardsart:

Maui’s dolphins - Acrylic on canvas (16 x 18)

A subspecies of the Hector’s dolphin, the Maui’s dolphin is found only off the northwest coast of New Zealand’s North Island and is one of the smallest cetaceans. It is also the world’s rarest: In early 2012, an updated survey determined that the entire population consists of only 55 individuals - a decrease of over 50% since the previous estimate in 2005. The main contributing factor to the Maui’s dolphin’s decline is believed to be commercial fishing methods, particularly gillnets, that result in a significant number of dolphins taken as bycatch.

The New Zealand government is proposing to extend the current protected area for Maui’s dolphins and is looking for submissions from people like you to guide their decision. You can help this critically endangered species by clicking here and signing the petition. The deadline is April 11th.

• Hector’s and Maui’s Dolphin SOS
• New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust
• New Zealand Department of Conservation: Dolphins

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• My website
• Facebook page

One of the things I’ve always wanted to do with my art is raise awareness, and after hearing about the recent survey of Maui’s dolphins that put their numbers even lower I felt like I could do something. Please sign the petition to the NZ government I linked to and spread the word - there are only 9 days left to sign, and with one last push we can get this incredible species the better protection it so desperately needs.

The arrival of a pod of false killer whales scuppered Clark’s plan to observe sperm whales in Dominica. Even though the false killers are only 5.5 to 4.5 metres long compared to the enormous sperm whale, they spooked the sperm whales, which disappeared. To make the most of the special permit he’d organized Clark concentrated on the false killers. ‘They’re normally very cautious,’ he says, ‘and seldom approach divers,’ which is why close-up photos are rare. But these whales found something fascinating about Clark, stopping just a couple of metres away. This time it was Clark who was nervous. Then in the mélange, he saw the dolphin. Scientists have long known bottlenose dolphins sometimes associate with false killer whales, but this is almost certainly the first time the relationship has been photographed.

Incredible. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition never fails to amaze.

I’m about halfway through uploading my photos from my brief stop at Clearwater Marine Aquarium to flickr! Panama seems like such a sweetheart.

From CMA’s website:

One of CMA’s oldest residents, and Winter’s new surrogate mother, “Panama” stranded in October 2000 near Panama City, Florida. Rehabilitative care was provided for anemia, severe sunburn, and infection. Panama responded well to treatment but her worn-down teeth, low stranding weight, and her association with “beggar” dolphins (dolphins that approach boats for food) raised concerns about whether she would be able forage for enough food to survive in the wild. Ultimately, it was felt that a successful release to the wild was unlikely, and Panama became CMA’s “dolphin senior citizen.”

Among the most damaging human interactions is feeding wild dolphins, even more than the risk of boat collisions or injury from the churning propellers. Although feeding wild dolphins is seemingly harmless, dolphins often become sick and strand or die as a result of eating dead fish thrown to them by boaters. This “begging behavior” is even more problematic because female beggars like Panama would unfortunately teach her calves and other dolphins to beg for fish rather than teach natural foraging skills required to survive in the wild. Thus, this type of human interaction affects many more animals and has a much greater impact over time.

Panama is truly an ambassador at CMA, educating guests about the consequences of feeding wild dolphins. She currently weighs 450 pounds, eats an average of 18 pounds of fish a day, and is a wonderful companion for our three other dolphins here at CMA.

mermaidswineglass:

Commersons Dolphin

Apparently, these guys are the most a.d.d. marine mammals to exist <3 

This is most likely true. This video about training Aquatica’s Commerson’s is fantastic!

I have a few minutes to continue going through my Clearwater photos, so here’s Hope with a little boy.

One of my favourite shots I took of Winter. She was floating and rolling around on this mat and taking peeks at Panama underwater.

She was about three months old when she was found wrapped up in a crab trap. She ended up losing her tail flukes and part of her peduncle as a result of her injuries and wasn’t expected to survive, but has instead been thriving. She’s well known for her groundbreaking prosthetic tail, which is not worn all the time because of the speed at which dolphin skin sloughs off (every two hours or so). She’s also the star of a fictionalized retelling of her story, Dolphin Tale, which is out later this year.

Hope! One of many many many of my photos from my quick visit to Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Sunday.

dreamsoftraining:

granamor:

A dolphin lives about 45-50 years in the wild, but over half die in captivity the first 2 years due to stress, disease and pollution in their tanks.

False, but thanks for trying…

Female bottlenose dolphins can live up to 40 and even 50 in the wild, just like dolphins in aquariums. However, some populations (like the one off Sarasota) have an average lifespan of about 20 years. So. You know. Facts with evidence and stuff.

Nellie turned 58 this year at Marineland in St. Augustine. She was born there, by the way.