Whales

It's very difficult to know what the Antarctic was like before humans arrived – but whale bones could hold the answer.

A select group of toothed whales may have doubled their lifespan to become better grandparents.

The cacophony in the oceans is preventing whales from making themselves heard.

The whale hall at the Natural History Museum undergoes a deep clean.

A jawbone fragment overlooked for more than 100 years was once part of a nine-metre-long ancient whale.

It’s said that you are what you eat – and that’s certainly true of toothed whales.

Almost half of marine mammals around the UK are being poisoned by banned chemicals.

Around the world, over 3,600 whales and dolphins are being kept in captivity.

A new study demonstrates the extraordinary ability of whales to develop new ways of feeding.

Fossils found in Peru are redefining the history of whale evolution.

Get to know the Arctic’s most friendly faced white whales.

Whales started becoming big early in their evolution – and kept going for millions of years.

Ancient Norwegian and Greek literature may have described trap feeding as much as 2,000 years before it was first observed in 2011.

The Yangtze finless porpoise has faced habitat loss and a reduced range as a result of sand mining, but a suspension of the practice offers hope that they could recover. 

The study could help in predicting how species will respond to the rapidly changing environment.

Sometimes reminding ourselves of a conservation failure can be just as important as celebrating our successes.

Scientists and conservationists are continuing to investigate this phenomenon, with the exact reasons remaining unclear.

A beluga whale has been spotted heading towards Paris, thousands of miles from its natural habitat.

The ability of dolphins and toothed whales to echolocate is shaped before they're even born.

Loud sound bursts throwing cetaceans out of balance and risk their health, amid growing concern over the impacts of anthropogenic noise pollution. 

We now know how whales evolved from furry, four-legged critters to giants of the ocean.

There are fewer than 10 vaquita left in the world, but it's still possible to save the species.

While it could provide a useful stopgap, there is no guarantee the technique, or whales, will ever fully restore what has been lost.

Beluga whales may be consuming hundreds of thousands of microplastics each year due to the fish they eat. 

Populations of the North Atlantic right whale fell by almost 10% in 2020, leaving only a few hundred of the animals surviving.

People are urged to keep an eye out for the whale last seen off Isleworth.

These exhibits all have a story rooted in London, from the banks of the River Thames to Trafalgar Square and all the way to the Tower of London. 

Whales are some of the only animals with wonky heads.

These are the best ever images of True's beaked whale. 

This is only the second humpback whale in the Thames for over 100 years. 

It is the oldest quadrupedal whale from the Americas.

It's one of the oldest datasets of its kind.

The biggest threat to marine life in Britain isn't plastic bottles - it's fishing gear.

A sperm whale has washed up in Indonesia with nearly six kilogrammes of plastic in its digestive system.

Museum experts catch us up on some of the latest natural history news.

Whales had more cortisol in their bodies while the global whaling industry was at its peak.

Refuges in the Arctic may help save the species.

Experts think it is likely that the beluga came from the direction of Svalbard off Norway. 

Evidence suggests she may have given birth the year before she died. 

It has been a record year for cetacean sightings in the waters around Britain.

The Museum is scanning its collection of whale specimens so that the data is easier to handle and accessible to researchers around the world.

Marine mammal expert Richard Sabin takes us through what scientists know – and don’t know – about narwhals, also known as unicorns of the sea.

The Museum's blue whale died 120 years ago, but the legend of its dramatic demise lives on in the minds of one family.

Sir David Attenborough has had a 60-year career in TV - but he's still interested in new ways of delivering nature to your door.

Discover how in death, whales can sustain life for decades.

A series of perfectly-preserved humpback whale foetuses reveal how whales grow before they're born.

Early ancestors of the ocean's biggest animals once walked on land. Follow their extraordinary journey from shore to sea. 

Research on communities of killer whales reveals there might be more to menopause than simply old age. 

Find out where ambergris, also known as floating gold, really comes from.

What happens to stranded whales? And how can they be useful for research?

Join Museum scientists as they reflect on becoming part of this specimen's giant story.

The Natural History Museum has unveiled a blue whale skeleton: the new star of its reimagined Hintze Hall, which begins the biggest transformation in its 136-year history.

Rare drone footage could prove vital for research into the meals of the largest animals on the planet.

See the skeleton of the Thames whale ten years after it caused a stir by swimming up London's river.

Why do whales sing? Scientists have only just begun to decipher the meaning of these underwater melodies.

Beaked whales can dive 2,000 metres below the ocean's surface. Why and how do they do it?

After months away, the blue whale skeleton has returned to the Museum. How did conservators get it through the Victorian doors?

Scanning and 3D-modelling the skeleton of a blue whale is an enormous undertaking.

Discover how crumpled newspapers have turned a blue whale skeleton into a historical treasure trove.

The conservators preparing the Museum's blue whale skeleton for its move into Hintze Hall have received a prize for their contribution to the public's understanding of conservation.

Watch as our blue whale is moved into storage and the conservators start their work.

Museum scientists have found that Osedax worms, which feed on the bones of whale carcasses, can live in shallow Mediterranean waters.

Museum scientist Rebecca Lyal shares her experiences studying whale and dolphin strandings along the British coast.

Go behind the scenes as the first bones are taken down from the blue whale skeleton.

Watch the scaffolding rising around the blue whale skeleton as the Museum gears up for the move.

Trace the 126-year journey of the blue whale from the sea to Museum.

The ocean offers a range of dining options. 

Discover how whales were at the heart of the original proposal for a museum of natural history in Britain.

One man forever changed the way curators showcase their largest and most eye-catching specimens – including blue whales.