Top 10 Inspiring, Amazing and Outrageous Cetacean Related Stories of 2012

What a year it was! While we are still finishing 2012 stranding statistics, here is the image that captured perfectly the struggles of this year:

A man in China splashes water from a tiny bowl in a desperate attempt to help an enormous sperm whale. Source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-03/19/content_14858459.htm

We can only hope that 2013 will bring less strandings and more new approaches to help saving as many stranded whales and dolphins as possible.

Now to the list. The stories are not necessarily strandings related, just something that captured our attention over last 12 months. The stories are listed in random order, it was really hard to determine which one was truly a number 1 for 2012, perhaps our readers can decide for themselves.

1. A summit of 100 sperm whales in Sri Lanka (link)

Source: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18199:over-100-sperm-whales-gather-in-kalpitiya-onlookers-puzzled-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=547

2. A common dolphin being bullied by peers (link)

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/04/dolphin-may-have-been-attacked-by-others-1.html

3. Humpback whales intervene in orca attack on a gray whale calf (link)

© Alisa Schulman-Janiger/Monterey Bay Whale Watch
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/324348

4. A dolphin with scoliosis that accompanies & babysits youngsters for a pod of sperm whales

5. A Humpback whale is seen in shallow waters without being stranded (speaking of loss of navigation in shallows)

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28895119@N00/7153990783/sizes/m/in/photostream/

6. Whales have been exposed to seismic tests off Australia Coast (link)

Source: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/bp-admits-whales-spotted-in-test-zone/story-e6frea6u-1226298604026

7. Humpback whales’ photos matched to 1978 photos (link)

Source: http://bernews.com/2012/03/humpback-whales-matched-to-1978/

8. A pod of common dolphins rescued in Brazil

9. Sea World Orlando randomly captures a wild dolphin calf in Florida just because it was seen alone for 2 hours (link)

10. Satellite tracking shows pilot whales rescue success (link)

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/09/17/3583681.htm

Happy 2013 New Year To ALL ! (including Cetacea, Sirenia, Otariids and Phocids)

Note: Not all stories were actually reported in 2012, some were reported earlier.