This roundup is full of surprise, science, and a whole lot of hope - from dogs rescuing platypuses to the first wild orca birth ever filmed, monk seal secret languages, returning kelp forests, newly seen rare whales, and a slight increase in population for the Vaquita.
Good Tides Only: November 2025
This month’s Good Tides Only is packed with the kind of good news that reminds us just how wonderfully hopeful our planet can be.
We’ve got heroic conservation dogs sniffing out platypuses, the first-ever footage of a wild orca birth caught on camera, and a powerful new DNA test helping rare hammerheads fight for their future. Hawaiian monk seals just revealed a secret underwater vocabulary, California’s kelp forests are making a long-awaited comeback, and a species of whale once known only from washed-up remains has finally been seen alive. And to top it off, the world's most endangered porpoise, the Vaquita, had a slight increase in population for the first time in years.
It’s a good month to feel hopeful about the world. 🌎💙
Dogs Helping Save Platypuses
Detection dogs are sniffing out hard-to-find platypuses, giving conservationists crucial data about where these endangered animals still survive. Their work strengthens ecosystem protection and shows how creative human-dog partnerships can drive real environmental solutions. It’s conservation science with a wagging tail.
First Wild Orca Birth Caught on Camera
For the first time ever, a wild orca birth was filmed in the waters of Northern Norway. Whale watchers observed unusual behavior before spotting a newborn calf from the well-known female NKW-591. While births have been recorded in captivity, this milestone offers rare insight into orca family life in the wild.
Two Vaquita Calves Offer Flicker of Hope for the World's Most Endangered Porpoises
Despite being the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita porpoise has shown a small but meaningful population increase — from an estimated 6–8 individuals to 7–10, including at least one or two calves. Researchers even spotted a known female, Frida, with a surviving year-old calf, offering a rare and hopeful sign for the species’ future.
New eDNA Test Helps Hammerhead Sharks
A groundbreaking environmental DNA test can detect rare hammerhead sharks without catching or disturbing them. Developed by FIU scientists, the method identifies tiny genetic traces left in the water, revealing where these elusive sharks live. This tool could revolutionize conservation for species pushed to the brink by overfishing.
Secret underwater language of Hawaiian monk seals
Researchers have discovered that Hawaiian monk seals use at least 25 previously unknown underwater vocalizations. The complex repertoire includes unique foraging calls and combinations never documented before. These findings could help scientists better protect the species as human-made ocean noise continues to grow.
California’s Kelp Forests Are Recovering
Kelp forests off the California coast are springing back to life, restoring vibrant underwater ecosystems filled with fish and marine life. These massive underwater “trees” clean water, create habitat, and absorb huge amounts of carbon — up to 20 times more than land forests. Their recovery offers hope for climate resilience and ocean health.
Rare Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whales Seen Alive for the First Time
A research team in Mexico has documented live sightings of the elusive ginkgo-toothed beaked whale — a species previously known only from stranded remains. These deep-diving, ultra-shy whales spend most of their lives far offshore, surfacing for only minutes. Their discovery highlights how much of the ocean’s biodiversity remains unseen.
