Searching for Type D: A New Species of Killer Whale?

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In January, 2019, an experienced group of killer whale biologists launched an expedition from the southern tip of Chile into some of the roughest waters in the world, searching for what could be a new species of killer whale.

Type D Killer Whales - 1st Encounter

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Select footage from an expedition off Cape Horn, Chile that documented a new type of killer whale with different appearance. Researchers obtained a tiny bit of tissue/blubber that will allow them to determine if the “Type D” whales are a new species.

Type D Killer Whales - Underwater Shots

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Select footage from an expedition off Cape Horn, Chile that documented a new type of killer whale with different appearance. Researchers obtained a tiny bit of tissue/blubber that will allow them to determine if the “Type D” whales are a new species.

Type D Killer Whales - Described by Bob Pitman

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Select footage from an expedition off Cape Horn, Chile that documented a new type of killer whale with different appearance. Researchers obtained a tiny bit of tissue/blubber that will allow them to determine if the “Type D” whales are a new species.

Species in the Spotlight: North Atlantic Right Whale

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Facing a variety of man-made threats, North Atlantic right whales were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1970. Once the right whale to hunt, these giants are now the right whales to save.

Give Them Space: Right Whale Mother & Calf Interact with Dolphins

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In February, 2019, scientists working under a federal research permit captured an amazing interaction between a group of bottlenose dolphins and a mother and calf North Atlantic right whale.

Humpback Whale Disentanglements in Alaska

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Watch efforts to disentangle two humpback whales in Alaska, and what to do if you see an entangled whale in Alaska.

The Right Stuff: Regulations for Right Whales

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North Atlantic right whales are one of the world’s most endangered large whale species, with only about 450 remaining. NOAA has developed regulations for boaters and fishermen to help protect these whales from vessel collisions and entanglements.

Teaming Up For Entangled Whales

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In 2017, more than 70 whales were entangled in fishing gear/marine debris. NOAA Fisheries and its partners successfully disentangled 20 whales, increasing their chances of survival. For some species, this may significantly boost recovery.

Tyonek: One Year Later

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One year ago, a four-week-old male beluga whale stranded on a mudflat near Trading Bay in Cook Inlet, Alaska. He is part of an endangered population of beluga whales. A year after his rescue, he is thriving at SeaWorld San Antonio.

Killer Whales at Night: Helping Protect Southern Residents

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Little is known about what killer whales do at night. To learn more, scientists use suction cup tags called DTAGs that can monitor whales’ nighttime behavior and responses to noise. Learn how this new information could help better protect the whales.