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Zoologist | Presenter | Sci Advisor ExpeditionKillerWhale @bbc @pbs FPII BPIII @bbcearth EMMYšAnimalsUpClose | EpicAās @natgeo OurOceans @netflix
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Recent posts
āPack iceā killer whales are rarely seen and little is known about their acoustic behaviour and repertoire. During āExpedition Killer Whaleā we were able to gain new insight into their foraging and social behaviour, including the role acoustics play in their daily lives.
@pbsnature
Scientists:
@jessica_farrer
Dr @leighhickmott
Cinematography:
@helen.hobin
@sams_natural_habitat
@tomwalkercam
Location Direction
@katesiney
#NaturePBS #wildlife #antarctica #killerwhales #orca #typeb1killerwhales #packicekillerwhale #expedition #expeditionkillerwhale #ekw #wildlifephotography
12 Feb 2025
This is perhaps one of the rarest of killer whale images on the planet. A breaching adult B1 āpack iceā killer whale. To my knowledge itās the only one in existence.
Meet Gertie, a very special B1 killer whale. She is the star of BBCās Frozen Planet, Frozen Planet II and now Expedition Killer Whale. Gertie is very dear to me and named after my late grandmother, both share the trait of being exceptional matriarchs. B1 Gertie has taught me so much about the family life and foraging techniques of this unique ecotype of killer whale. Expedition Killer Whale sets out to showcase the family bonds and ingenuity required for pods of āpack iceā killer whales to succeed.
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Image taken under licence.
@bbcstudios @bbciplayer @bbc @bbcearth @pbs @pbsnature
#bbc #bbc2 #pbs #naturepbs #antarctica #killerwhale #orca #typeb1killerwhales #packicekillerwhale #expedition #expeditionkillerwhale #ekw #wildlifephotography #bbcwildlifepotd #wildlife #nikon #research #ocean #southernocean #conservation #whale #dolphin
20 Dec 2024
Celebrating 25 years of beaked whale research.
Iām thrilled to be celebrating 25 years of studying beaked whales. My research career began in The Bahamas studying the behavioural ecology of Blainvilleās beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) and goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) in 1999 with colleagueās @bmmro Dr. Diane Claridge, Dr. Charlotte Dunn, Dr. Kim Parsons @cetus5 , Dr. John Durban and the late Dr. Ken Balcomb III. Iāll never forget my first encounters with a Blainvilleās mum (Md094, now an old friend) and her neonate calf with Kim and goose-beaked whales with Ken that summer. The images here are of two mother calf pairs of Blainvilleās beaked whales during an encounter I had back in 2011 that included Md094.
Beaked whale research has come along way over the past quarter of a century and Iāve been fortunate enough to study many species, from Bairdās beaked whales in the Bering Sea, to Arnouxās beaked whales in the Antarctic.
Much of my research over the years has been addressing questions associated with anthropogenic noise, particularly naval sonar and its impacts on beaked whale populations. Iām grateful to the many colleagues and collaboratorās that have helped shape my research and knowledge of this enigmatic family of whales.
#beakedwhale #mesoplodon #mesoplodondensirostris #ziphiid #blainvilles #blainvillesbeakedwhale #whale #cetacean #research #bahamas #thebahamas #bmmro #andros #abaco #wildlife #photoid #sonar #populationmonitoring #conservation #ecology #wildlife #nature #bbcwildlifepotd #natgeoyourshot #myocean
27 Jul 2024
World First! New Science Discoveries!
Gervaisā beaked whale (Mesoplodon europaeus) tagging success.
In September myself, Felice Major @bmmro and Julian Dale @julesdaledrone set out on an open ocean expedition to collect diving and foraging ecology data on a cryptic, fascinating and poorly understood whale species, Gervaisā beaked whale. Itās been a research ambition of mine for more than 25 years!
WEāVE ONLY GONE AND DONE IT!!š
We deployed sound and 3D movement recording tags (DTAGās) on four different individuals and now have a vast amount of unique data to delve into! It was a HUGE SUCCESS, which is still sinking in!
Our efforts were only possible thanks to the incredible support of our funders and collaborators. We are hugely grateful to @WWF_whales (Chris Johnson @chris.johnson.au)
@wereldnatuurfonds (WWF NL) Nathalie Houtman
Natalie Hodges and the team at @ceibahamas
Albury Catalina and the staff at @theislandschool
Dr Diane Claridge and Dr Charlotte Dunn from @bmmro
Alex Shorter @uofmichigan
Alex Bocconcelli WHOI @whoi.ocean
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Aerials @julesdaledrone
Stills by Felice Major @bmmro
This research was conducted under permit BS-2026-472365, issued to BMMRO, by the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, The Bahamas.
#research #expedition #whale #ocean #gervais
16 Oct 2026
One breath. One fluke up. Thenā¦ darkness. šš
This male sperm whale is beginning a deep foraging dive, descending into the oceanās depths in search of squid and octopus (especially the seven-arm octopus (Haliphron atlanticus).
I use non-invasive suction-cup tags that record 3D movement and underwater acoustics to study how these incredible animals hunt in the deep and reveal a world almost no human will ever witness.
Follow for more incredible whale science and ocean exploration.
#spermwhale #marinebiology #ocean #whale #conservation
Images taken under licence.
27 Jun 2026
This is why I spend months searching for rare and elusive whales.
Proof that wild oceans are still full of wonder. This is an extraordinary glimpse into the hidden lives of beaked whales. Yep, despite their looks theyāre not dolphins, they are four socialising, sub-adult Sowerbyās beaked whales (Mesoplodon bidens)!
Letās act together to help conserve the secrets hidden in the big blue of planet Earth š šš
#ocean #whales #sowerbysbeakedwhale #conservation #wildlife
Images taken under licence.
12 Jun 2026
Imagine animals with teamwork so smart they create waves to wash seals off ice floes.
Thatās exactly what Antarcticaās pack ice killer whales do. š§
But as sea ice recedes, these extraordinary hunters are being pushed to adapt faster than ever.
We spoke to Dr Leigh Hickmott, whale biologist, killer whale expert and consultant on Frozen Planet II, about these remarkable predators, the challenges they face and what the polar cruise industry is doing to help them.
š Read the full story at the link in bio.
#orcas #killerwhale #antarctica
02 Jun 2026
Witnessing one of the most beautiful moments in the open ocean, the calmness and intimacy of motherhood. A sperm whale mother and calf glide together in Earths blue abyss. ššš
Protect what you love.
#ocean #whales #spermwhale #conservation #wildlife
Images taken under licence.
29 May 2026
Happy Birthday Sir David. Thank you for inspiring so so many of us to embrace, care for and study the natural world.
#sirdavidattenborough #wildlife #research #conservation
08 May 2026
What a great week of cetacean science and conservation presentations and debate with an incredible community of researchers. Brilliant to see the strength of the research and commitment to collaboration and shared conservation goals. An inspiring week.
HUGE thanks to the local organising committee for putting on a truly memorable and successful conference. Hats off to you Ailsa, Carol, Jo, Mariel and all the folks that helped you.
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#research #ecs2026 #whale #dolphin #conservation
26 Apr 2026
Whale Song Bath: Earth Day Special with Tom Mustill and Dr Leigh Hickmott
We invite you to join us in Steeple Church Dundee for an immersive Whale Sound Bath - a chance to enjoy dazzling high fidelity recordings of hundreds of whales and dolphins in a celebration of underwater life from across the seas! The experience is narrated by whale obsessed writer and filmmaker Tom Mustill, and afterward weāll hear tales from behind the scenes stories filming and studying Antarctic killer whales from Dr Leigh Hickmott.
For Earth Day all proceeds will support local marine conservation organisations the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) @samsmarinescience and the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust @hwdt_org
The piece features cetacean voices from local seas including the only known recordings of the West Coast Community killer whales.
How To Be A Whale is an underwater sound story told through the lives of whales and dolphins. It was made from thousands of bioacoustic recordings of their communications, donated from scientists and whale listeners around the world and supported by WDC. Some are the first ever cetacean sounds recorded in the 1950s and newly digitised, others are fresh from the sea from sperm whale ātranslationā researchers Project CETI in Dominica.
Bring a drink and thereās space to put down a blanket and stretch out in the calm and magnificent sanctuary of Dundeeās Steeple Church.
Wednesday 22 April, 7:30-9 pm Steeple Church, Dundee, DD1 4DG
#whale #orca #earthday #dolphins #ocean
17 Apr 2026
Springā26 has sprung!
Kicked off my 2026 talk series ā A Whale of a Tailā, at my local sailing club.
Got out for some fun on the water!
Had the pleasure of joining a dedicated gang of volunteers from the club to take part in the Chichester Federation Pan Harbour Beach Clean-Up 2026. With the clubās Environment Team having adopted Pilsey Beach. Itās a special place, with Convention on Wetlands - Ramsar status, alongside Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds, a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for habitats, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The whole project is a great initiative and a partnership between Chichester Harbour Sailing Clubs, the Chichester Harbour Federation and @chichesterharbourconservancy
https://www.chifed.org/the-chf-environmental-forum/
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Cover sailboat image: Bertie Gregory/NatGeo/D+
05 Apr 2026
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