Over 60 million years ago, the common ancestor to all whales and dolphins roamed on land. Since taking to an aquatic life, they’ve adapted in remarkable ways to thrive in oceans across the globe; from icy polar waters to warm tropical seas. Let’s dive into some of their most astonishing adaptations.
In modern times, the importance and application of data is well understood; the digital world we live in has been driven by it. Data is vital to understanding trends and it’s no different when investigating environmental changes.
Our passion for whales runs deep, and there’s so much to admire about these incredible creatures. On Valentine’s Day, we highlight some of the reasons why we loves whales and why you should too.
During 2024, 11,039 sightings of whales, dolphins, porpoises, and other marine life were reported to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) by members of the public, or citizen scientists. Over 65,000 animals have been sighted in Scottish waters, from 17 different species.
Dr Michael Tetley, member for the IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, shares his knowledge of the opportunistic feeding strategies of minke whales in Scotland.
Whales and dolphins are long-lived and well-travelled, with some species crossing oceans on migration. Understanding these magnificent creatures and safeguarding their futures relies on long-term monitoring, offering us a deeper glimpse into their lives and challenges.
The team on our seventeenth survey encountered foraging minke whales, porpoises and sea birds on their seven-day survey out of Mallaig. Read all about their experiences here…
As reports of the wettest summer on record spread, the team aboard the 13th expedition this field season battled through to survey around the west of Mull, rewarded with dolphins and porpoises.
Our popular floating classroom school visits provide primary school children the opportunity to jump aboard our research vessel, Silurian, experiencing what it’s like to live and work as a marine mammal scientist.
Our dedicated Whale Track community have continued to watch from land, record their excursions at sea and report their sightings through the record-breaking wet weather this summer.
The team on our fifthteenth survey encountered foraging common dolphins, bow-riding harbour porpoises and numerous common seals on their seven-day survey out of Mallaig. They enjoyed the first of our autumnul expeditions with starry skies and bioluminescense. Read all about their experiences here…
The team on our fourteenth survey encountered minke whales, common dolphins, white-beaked dolphins and Atlantic blue-fin tuna on their nine day expedition out of Tobermory. Read all about their experiences here…
The ferry routes operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) off Scotland’s west coast are fantastic platforms for spotting wildlife, journeying through stretches of water rich in marine life.
Our expedition surveys on board our research vessel, Silurian, have been monitoring Scotland’s seas for over two decades. This long-term monitoring is critical, driving protections to restore marine biodiversity and championing healthy seas for nature and communities.