Recent News
Three Recipients: $100,000 Catlin Marine GrantThursday, April 24, 2014
The Catlin Marine Grant evolved from the reef-mapping work undertaken by the Catlin Seaview Survey, a series of worldwide scientific expeditions launched by Catlin in 2012 to document the composition and health of the world’s coral reefs.
Bermuda Aquarium releases Galapagos shark
Thursday, April 24, 2014
A 1.5m/5' Galapagos shark named Desmond has been released back into the wild by the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.
‘Desmond’ the shark released back into ocean
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
A five-foot Galapagos shark named Desmond has been released back into the ocean by staff at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.
Opinion: Ethical Question Of Dolphins & Captivity
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Recently there’s been a lot of discussion in Bermuda on the issue of keeping dolphins in captivity; this appears to have been the unintended result of Dolphin Quest announcing the births of two baby dolphins amongst their captive population.
5ft Shark “Desmond” Released From Aquarium
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
As we previously reported, on Good Friday staff at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo [BAMZ] — in conjunction with the research and camera crew of the upcoming television series Ocean Vet – released a five-foot Galapagos shark named Desmond back into the wild, requiring an intricate transportation process from start to finish.
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Latest News
All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!
By Sarah Lagan - Sub-Editor/Writer
Wednesday, July 24th 9:20 a.m.
Washed up: The pygmy whale, or possible dwarf sperm whale, that was
spotted off Nonsuch Island on Sunday. *Photo supplied
What is believed to be a baby pygmy sperm whale was found washed up dead in the shallows off Nonsuch Island.
The sighting was reported to the Bermuda Museum, Aquarium and Zoo which has performed an necropsy on the four-foot mammal and has disposed of the body.
The aquarium heard about the discovery from Terrestrial Conservation Officer for the Department of Conservation Services Jeremy Madeiros who had received a call about the discovery from a member of the public on Sunday morning.
Patrick Talbot, curator for the aquarium and zoo, told the Bermuda Sun: “We responded to Jeremy’s call, went out to Nonsuch and found a male baby whale that had washed up on to one of the beaches. It had maybe been dead only a day or two.
“We knew it was a baby by the size of it — there are no adult whales that small. We think it is a pygmy but it could also be a dwarf sperm whale which are slightly smaller.
“Staff were mobilised and we did a necropsy at the aquarium. We have no cause of death — we believe it was a neonate which means a newborn or not long after birth which could be a few weeks. There were no major injuries just some scratches which could have happened post mortem. We don’t know how it died, the stomach was empty so it probably hadn’t been feeding for very long. It’s teeth hadn’t protruded from the jaw so it would have been still nursing. This is an animal that most likely lost its parent. We took tissue samples and they will get sent off to experts who will give us a little bit more information but that is a slow process.”
Seal sighting
Last week there had been two reports of a seal being spotted in the same area which Mr Talbot said could have been mistaken for the whale. “It is entirely possible,” he said. “But one report said the animal had whiskers — without actually seeing the reported seal it is hard to say ‘yay’ or ‘nay that’s what it was’ but it certainly makes sense that they might have spotted this baby whale.”
The pygmy sperm whale is one of the most common types of whale to become stranded on Bermuda’s shores, there are sightings every few years according to Mr Talbot.
“We had an adult wash ashore in 2007 that was alive in Ely’s Harbour but it passed away within a few days of us trying to bring it back. There was one sighted inshore in 2010.
“As far as I know this is the first juvenile we have had here. They are pelagic — they are found in the Atlantic so they are not uncommon offshore from Bermuda especially because they feed on things like squid. We are a pinnacle in the middle of the ocean and so there is food for them to feed on.”