Anaïs Remili

Anaïs is the founder of Whale Scientists. She is a postdoc fellow at Simon Fraser University working on killer whale ecology, pollution, and health impacts. You can read more about her here.

Meet the Australian Snubfin Dolphin – An Edemic and Threatened Species

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The Australian snubfin dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) is one of Australia’s only endemic dolphin species, identified as a new species in 2005. This small dolphin is adorable, but it faces conservation threats due to its small population and coastal habitat preference. So this month, let’s celebrate the Australian snubfin dolphin and the 25th Biennial Conference on […]

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Want to do a PhD on killer whales? Start by narrowing your research niche

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So, you have finished your undergraduate or master’s in marine science and set your heart on pursuing a PhD working on a charismatic cetacean species. Whether it’s the killer whale, the beluga, or another species at risk, you would like to find a cool research project, study your dream species, and make a difference. The

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A complete guide to attending your first marine mammal conference

/ / Become a whale scientist

Attending a marine mammal conference is an exciting opportunity to learn, share your research, and meet new people who share your passion. Whether it’s your first conference or you’ve been to many before, it can still feel a little overwhelming with so much happening all at once. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of

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Can Whales Eat and Swallow Humans?

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Whales are unlikely to swallow humans due to their anatomy and behavior. Baleen whales, with small esophagi, filter-feed on tiny prey, while toothed whales have larger throats but do not treat humans as prey. Encounters are generally non-aggressive and driven by curiosity. Historical anecdotes and myths exaggerate these possibilities.

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Russian ship played classical music to rescue entrapped belugas

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The Moskva was the largest and most powerful non-nuclear icebreaker at her delivery time. She got international attention in 1985 when she herded around 2000 ice-entrapped belugas back to the open sea … by playing classical music. Yes, you read that right! What is an icebreaker? An icebreaker is a class of ships that can

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Why are baby whales and dolphins born with whiskers?

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Vibrissae, or whiskers, are found in most mammals, including cetaceans like dolphins, whales, and porpoises. These were likely inherited from terrestrial ancestors, serving as sensory organs during these species’ evolution from land to water. While in many cetaceans, whiskers disappear as they mature, leaving behind small cavities termed ‘vibrissal crypts’, certain species, such as the Amazon river dolphin, retain them, helping in food detection and possibly electroreception.

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Toxic Menus: Contaminants Threaten the Health of North Atlantic Killer Whales

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In a ground-breaking new study just published in Environmental Science & Technology, a disturbing picture of contamination among North Atlantic killer whales has emerged. Persistent organic contaminants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides (DDTs, Chlordanes, etc.), and flame retardants, were detected at alarming levels in these apex marine predators. This study sheds light on the

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Baby killer whales face many challenges in their first year

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We just heard the news that a new killer whale baby was born into the L-pod of the critically endangered Southern Resident population. While we’re delighted to hear about the birth of a new killer whale calf, it’s important to be cautious. Unfortunately, newborn killer whales have a high mortality rate within their first six

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What do killer whales eat in the North Atlantic? Fat’s the question!

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Here is a killer whale fact for you: despite decades of intensive research, we still do not know for sure what killer whales eat in most regions of the world. Killer whales are top predators, and the amount and types of animals they eat can greatly impact a whole ecosystem. To figure out how killer

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