During the past month there have been two stranding events and as BMMRO runs the Bahamas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, it has been a hectic time. A young female pilot whale stranded alive in south Abaco possibly due to parasites in her brain, but was cut open on her underside after stranding, whilst still alive, presumably in a search for ambergris. We reported widely on this horrific event, but please remember and share the following:
1. Ambergris only comes from sperm whales.
2. Only approximately 1% of sperm whales produce ambergris.
3. Ambergris becomes valuable once it has floated at sea and is of no value taken directly from a whale.
4. Harming a marine mammal is a violation of the Bahamas Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The following week we were alerted of a sick Atlantic spotted dolphin in the Berry Islands. Our colleagues at Atlantis' Dolphin Cay rescued the animal and transported him to Nassau where his health is improving. This dolphin has previously been seen by researchers at The Wild Dolphin Project who study dolphins on the Great Bahama Bank. Knowing where the animal has been previously sighted and other dolphins he has been seen with contributes to a more successful release outcome assuming his health continues to improve.

We did also have some lovely calm weather and productive time on the water with healthy marine mammals, re-sighting both beaked whale and bottlenose dolphin calves that hadn't been seen since last year.

Finally, we would like to thank our summer interns, Ashley Cook, a masters student from the University of Miami studying the vocalisations of Bahamian dolphins, and Krystynia Pyfrom from Nassau who joined us for a short time during her gap year - thank you both for all your help.