{
  "id": 11035801,
  "title": "Tracking the fin whale and the sperm whale in the Mediterranean",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/tracking-the-fin-whale-and-the-sperm-whale-in-the-mediterranean",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-30T21:20:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-tracking-fin-whale-sperm-mediterranean.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Marine biologists in the Mediterranean are tracking the movements of fin whales, sperm whales, and other large sea creatures using a unique approach. They are utilizing commercial ferry routes as observation platforms, collecting data on the presence and distribution of marine megafauna. Over a three-week period, three scientific campaigns observed 707 instances of marine wildlife, primarily focusing on eight cetacean species and two sea turtle species. While the striped dolphin was consistently observed over a wide area, the fin whale's distribution varied significantly between routes. Sea turtle sightings, specifically loggerhead turtles, were most frequently recorded but showed a decline in numbers over the observation period. This data can help develop models to assess potential risks from maritime traffic, ultimately contributing to the conservation of Mediterranean marine biodiversity.",
  "summary": "Where are the great marine animals of the Mediterranean, such as the fin whale, the sperm whale or the bottlenose dolphin? How does their distribution change over a few weeks? All indications suggest that these species shift between marine areas in a remarkably short time and over relatively small spatial scales. Some species, such as the striped dolphin, maintain a relatively stable presence in…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}