This Week in Whales: Cape Cod Dolphin Disaster Continues; Dolphins Stranding in Peru; Canadian Navy Blasts Sonar in Puget Sound, Days Later Killer Whale Dies; Dolphins, Like Stars, Are Just Like Us...

News in the world of whales this week (or close to it).

• We’re seven weeks into 2012 and it’s shaping up to be an awful year for dolphins.  The disaster in Cape Cod shows no sign of letting up.  So far this year, more than 175 dolphins have beached themselves in Cape Code.  The International Fund for Animal Welfare has been leading the effort to save as many of the dolphins as possible, caring for those found on shore and working to keep hundreds of others from getting too close to shore.  Nonetheless, 125 dolphins have died in Cape Cod since the stranding started on January 12.  The total for the month is nearly five times the 12-year overage of 37 common dolphin strandings per year.  Here’s a video of IFAW at work:

         Unfortunately, scientists still do not know why the dolphins are stranding in such large numbers, buy there are many theories, including this year’s unusually warm winter; geography; movement of prey; disease; or decompression sickness.

• Meanwhile, at least 260 dead dolphins have washed up on a 66-mile stretch of beach near Lima, Peru, leaving scientists baffled.  Here’s graphic video of the dead dolphins there:

• The Canadian Navy has some explaining to do, as does the US government.  Last week, my colleague Michael Jasny wrote about the Canadian Navy using dangerous sonar in Puget Sound, impacting waters protected by the United States.  The US designates the area as critical habitat for Southern resident killer whales, which have a history of negative reactions when exposed to sonar, and the US Navy is not authorized to use sonar in the area for training purposes.  The Canadian Navy’s use of sonar took place on Monday.  Five days later, Sooke (also known as Little Victoria), a three-year old Southern resident killer whale from L Pod, was found dead on Long Beach, Washington.  Susan Berta of Orca Network said, “To lose a three-year old is very sad, but especially when it’s a female and especially from L Pod is pretty devastating in a community this size.”  Sooke had been dead about three days when her body washed to shore, which means she may have died around Tuesday – a day after the Canadian Navy used sonar.  Of course, the Canadian Navy has said that it took “all necessary precautions” – although apparently not the most important precaution – not using sonar in Puget Sound at all.  Scientists are studying samples taken from Sooke now and it will likely be months before we know what caused her death (if that’s possible at all), which may have had nothing to do with sonar.  Nonetheless, her death and Canada’s negligent use of sonar in the area highlight the necessity to ensure that Southern resident killer whales and other endangered species are protected from sonar’s harmful impacts.  Something NRDC is trying to do with the lawsuit we filed last week against the government for failing to protect whales and dolphins in the Pacific Northwest from the US Navy’s use of sonar.  Now, not only must the US government explain why it isn’t doing more to protect species from the US Navy’s use of sonar, but also why it allows the Canadian Navy to take action that negatively impacts US critical habitat. 
• A critically endangered North Atlantic right whale entangled in fishing line has been freed off Cape Cod.  The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies’ response team cut the line looped around the young male whale’s head.  The same whale was saved in nearly the same spot in 2009 when it was once again entangled.  Hmm, maybe we should do something about all these entanglements?  Oh, yeah, right, there’s a US agency charged with protecting the North Atlantic right whale and other marine mammals from entanglement – The National Marine Fisheries Service.  I’m sure they’re doing a bang up job.  Oh, wait, they’re not, which is why conservation groups have sued the Fisheries Service for failing to protect the whales from entanglement.  I hope they win. 
• Turns out that dolphins, like our beloved Hollywood Stars, are just like us.  Dolphins enjoy surfing!  What’s next?  Do they do their own grocery shopping too?

Meanwhile, this week in Wales…

England is thirsty.  Wales has more water than it needs.  Do I hear a solution?  The National Farmers Union (apparently the largest farmer association for Welsh and English farmers) says that water-rich Wales should supply drought-hit England.  Turns out that the Bewl Water reservoir which serves Kent and parts of East Sussex is only 41% full after the driest 10 months since 1888 (did I just hear someone say global warming?).  Meanwhile, Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru says that its reservoirs are 98% full.  Could be a good idea.