The government of Papua New Guinea says it is moving rapidly with legislation to make the nation, north of Australia, a whale sanctuary. Full Story: http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2002/09/23/daily4.html

A change in routine netted Cathy Berse an early morning surprise Monday — a face-to-face encounter with an adult male pygmy sperm whale. Full Story: http://www.news-journalonline.com/2002/Sep/24/AREA2.htm

Seal pups born in waters in Pembrokeshire are said to be “doing well” despite the threat of a killer virus which has claimed the lives of thousands.

Japanese whaling ships began returning from the northwest Pacific Ocean on Sunday, after their first hunt for endangered sei whales in a quarter century.

A marine amusement park in Florida wants the world’s most famous free whale back in captivity. Full Story: http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=3874&section=NEWS

For the first time in more than a century, a northern right whale calf has been sighted in the eastern North Pacific Ocean, which scientists say offers hope that the world’s most endangered cetaceans may yet escape extinction. Full Story: http://www.

Keiko the killer whale, star of the “Free Willy” movies, might never re-adapt to life in the wild after his release from two decades in captivity, the head of the orca’s own foundation said on Thursday. Full Story: http://www.planetark.org/dailynews

There are fears the deadly seal virus that has killed about 1,000 animals around the Wash has spread south to Essex. Full Story

Puffins have bred on Ailsa Craig off the Ayrshire coast for the first time in 50 years. Full Story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2265149.stm

The outbreak of Phocine Distemper Virus has now claimed up to 12,000 animals across NW Europe. In the UK 1,005 animals have been found dead, most cases are from the Norfolk coast.