Pod of hundreds of dolphins causing 'quite a stir' in Scarborough
Mr Ellis, a conservation ecologist who has been studying the group, said: "This is one of the largest pods around the UK "We've definitely seen them foraging in the area, so we know that they are fishing and they are finding the prey that they need."The population that we find here are the largest of their species in the world and it's thought this is because of the cooler waters in the North Sea, they have thicker blubber reserves."He added: "There's been increased sightings of bottlenose dolphins of the coast of Yorkshire over the past decade or so. We have about 225 in this east coast population in Scotland and we believe they have expanded their range."
Mr Tiles, who set up the Scarborough Dolphins Facebook Group, said: "I saw one throw a huge salmon yesterday. "I think the richer seas we have here now because of fishing restrictions are responsible for luring this pod down from Scotland. I think that's what's bringing them."
Mr Ellis agreed sea conditions might be behind the dolphins presence near the famous resort."There have been a lot of marine heatwaves going on and it could also be that environmental conditions in Yorkshire are improving - it's something we're investigating."Mr Ellis said each dolphin could be individually recognised through "unique markings"."One of the things that we're looking at is which animals are present on the Yorkshire coastline and how they are moving between Scotland and England," he added.
As to whether the huge pod's stay in the area was set to continue, both men agreed the future looked bright for dolphin spotters along Yorkshire's east coast.Mr Ellis said: "It's really encouraging that they are being seen on a regular basis and in quite large group sizes."Mr Tiles added: "Five years ago you were lucky if you saw a group of five or six, now it's in the hundreds.""They're here to stay I think - they'll definitely be back."
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
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BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Pod of hundreds of dolphins causing 'quite a stir' in Scarborough
Hundreds of dolphins have been causing "quite a stir" by frolicking and fishing in the North Sea off pod of bottlenose dolphins, thought to number 225, is believed to have made its way south from the Moray Firth in naturalist Fred Tiles, 70, said the pod had come "really close to shore and Marine Drive is filled with people with binoculars and cameras watching them breaching and throwing fish".Meanwhile, Grant Ellis from The Sea Mammal Research Unit, said: "The population has been increasing in Scotland, so it could be that they're finding new areas of habitat and that the Yorkshire coastline is good for them." Mr Ellis, a conservation ecologist who has been studying the group, said: "This is one of the largest pods around the UK "We've definitely seen them foraging in the area, so we know that they are fishing and they are finding the prey that they need."The population that we find here are the largest of their species in the world and it's thought this is because of the cooler waters in the North Sea, they have thicker blubber reserves."He added: "There's been increased sightings of bottlenose dolphins of the coast of Yorkshire over the past decade or so. We have about 225 in this east coast population in Scotland and we believe they have expanded their range." Mr Tiles, who set up the Scarborough Dolphins Facebook Group, said: "I saw one throw a huge salmon yesterday. "I think the richer seas we have here now because of fishing restrictions are responsible for luring this pod down from Scotland. I think that's what's bringing them." Mr Ellis agreed sea conditions might be behind the dolphins presence near the famous resort."There have been a lot of marine heatwaves going on and it could also be that environmental conditions in Yorkshire are improving - it's something we're investigating."Mr Ellis said each dolphin could be individually recognised through "unique markings"."One of the things that we're looking at is which animals are present on the Yorkshire coastline and how they are moving between Scotland and England," he added. As to whether the huge pod's stay in the area was set to continue, both men agreed the future looked bright for dolphin spotters along Yorkshire's east Ellis said: "It's really encouraging that they are being seen on a regular basis and in quite large group sizes."Mr Tiles added: "Five years ago you were lucky if you saw a group of five or six, now it's in the hundreds.""They're here to stay I think - they'll definitely be back." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
05-05-2025
- BBC News
Global NHS osteoarthritis study could lead to new treatments
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Scottish Sun
04-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Butchered giraffe and glass BRAIN found in ancient treasure trove of objects buried by Mount Vesuvius 2,000 years ago
The town of Herculaneum was buried under roughly five times the amount of ash that Pompeii was UNEARTHED Butchered giraffe and glass BRAIN found in ancient treasure trove of objects buried by Mount Vesuvius 2,000 years ago IT was an ordinary day when Mount Vesuvius plastered nearby towns in thick volcanic ash 2,000 years ago. A treasure trove of objects was buried, each giving an insight into the lives people led. 9 Drinks and hot food were served in this place, with large jars placed in the richly decorated masonry counter Credit: Getty 9 Archaeologists found the leg joint of a butchered giraffe beneath ancient Pompeii markets Credit: PA Butchered giraffe In the drains beneath the long-gone markets of Pompeii, archaeologists have found a rich variety of foods - from sea urchin to shellfish. But perhaps the most exotic find was the leg joint of a butchered giraffe. It is thought to be the only giraffe bone ever recorded from an archaeological excavation in Roman Italy, according to archaeologist Steven Ellis, who directs the University of Cincinnati's excavations at Pompeii. The discoveries point to busy trade relationships outside of Italy. 'How part of the animal, butchered, came to be a kitchen scrap in a seemingly standard Pompeian restaurant not only speaks to long-distance trade in exotic and wild animals, but also something of the richness, variety and range of a non-elite diet," explains Ellis. 9 This human brain tissue found at Herculaneum was turned into glass due to heat from the volcano disaster that destroyed Pompeii Credit: 9 Victims of Vesuvius were baked, boiled and buried in ash Credit: Rex Features Glass brain In Herculaneum, a town to the west of Mount Vesuvius, two bizarre pieces of dark-coloured glass were found inside the skulls of two individuals. The first piece of glass suspected to be of 'organic origin' was identified in Herculaneum in 2020. A glassy, black material was found inside the skull of a man on a wooden bed, who was buried by volcanic ash. While the second was hunk of black glass was found earlier this year. The Tragic History of Pompeii Experts believe these are fossilised brains, caused by the extreme heat from the short-lived ash cloud that swept through the ancient town of Herculaneum in 79CE. Herculaneum was buried under roughly five times the amount of ash that Pompeii was. Similarly, the second victim had also been lying on their bed when the cloud descended. For the brain to become glass, it must have been heated to above 510°C before quickly cooling. This is an incredibly rare process is called vitrification. 9 Erotic Satyr and Nymph wall painting from The House of the Faun in Pompeii Credit: Universal History Archive 9 Fresco sex scene in the wall of Lupanar of Pompeii Credit: Getty Cheeky art The Romans' affinity for brothels, alcohol, and pornography has been well documented and discovered among the ruins of Pompeii. Hundreds of sexually explicit works of art from Pompeii have been placed in the Secret Museum in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. These include graphic sex scenes - which experts believe could be advertisements for local brothels - as well as lots of phallic statuary, believed to bring wealth, fertility, and good luck. Some of these pieces were so cheeky that they were deemed "pornographic" in 1821, and the museum closed the room to visitors in 1849. The Secret Museum didn't reopen for good until 2000. 9 The simple etchings depict men with shields and spears fighting animals and each other Credit: Instagram/@pompeii_parco_archeologico 9 Political slogans and messages of support for candidates can still be seen preserved on the walls today Credit: Getty Graffiti Pompeiians were politically active - and they have the graffiti to show for it. There was an upcoming election when the city was buried by Mount Vesuvius. Political slogans and messages of support for candidates can still be seen preserved on the walls today. Though it wasn't just political statements being plastered around. Last May, charcoal wall drawings were unearthed that archaeologists believe were made by children as young as five. The drawings, which were of children's height, suggest they had attended gruesome gladiator battles in the city. The simple etchings depict men with shields and spears fighting animals and each other. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, said children of the time would have come into contact with extreme forms of speculated violence. This includes the frequent executions of criminals and slaves. "We came to the conclusion that in all likelihood the drawings of the gladiators and hunters were made on the basis of a direct vision and not from pictorial models," he said in a statement at the time. "Probably one or more of the children who played in this courtyard, among the kitchens, latrine and flowerbeds for growing vegetables, had witnessed fights in the amphitheatre." 9 An array of ancient Roman surgical instruments discovered at Pompeii, on display at Naples Museum Credit: Hulton Archive / Getty Images Surgical tools Archaeologists have also recovered surgical instruments from Pompeii - which paint a squeamish picture of medical practices in 79 AD. Medical tools have been found in various parts of the excavated city, but most most were found at a structure known as the House of the Surgeon. While the Romans had not yet developed germ theory, many of the tools were made of copper alloys. Copper has antimicrobial properties - meaning the tools may have prevented infections.
