New discovery about the habitat of endangered whales

With its vast deep beaches, the Mediterranean is considered an important habitat for marine mammals, two of which are endangered.

Image of a dolphin swimming off the coast of Haifa. Source: Greenpeace Israel

New research published on May 28 shows that Israel's economic waters in the Mediterranean are home to many species of whales and dolphins, including two species that are at risk of extinction.

The study, conducted by Greenpeace Israel, the University of Haifa and Italian researchers, included a survey through audio-visual monitoring of marine mammals.

The team discovered a pod of sperm whales, 15km off the coast of Haifa, along with four Cuvier's beaked whales. In addition, scientists also located one bottlenose dolphin and seven other dolphins of an unidentified species in Israeli waters.

Possessing vast deep beaches and numerous canals, the Mediterranean is considered an important habitat for marine mammals.

Sperm whales, a cetacean, are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, similar to the Mediterranean population of Cuvier's beaked whales.

Both species are adversely affected by noise from human activities and can also be severely damaged in the event of a marine oil spill disaster.

Therefore, the authors of the study warn that new natural gas and oil exploration projects planned in Israeli waters could cause serious harm to marine mammals, especially sperm whales and Cuvier's beaked whales.

They also stressed the need to immediately conduct systematic surveys of marine mammals.

( According to https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phat-hien-moi-ve-noi-sinh-song-cua-ca-voi-co-nguy-co-tuyet-chung/865154.vnp )

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