True's beaked whales caught on camera for first time
Scientists have recorded video footage of a group of True's beaked whales, one the world's most elusive whales, for the first time.
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Norway's fisheries minister wants around two thousand whales shot
Norway´s fisheries minister, Per Sandberg has announced that he would like to see more whales killed by Norwegian hunting vessels, and also would like to sell the meat to the EU.
Nature book award for WDC field officer Charlie Phillips
On a Rising Tide, by WDC’s very own field officer, Charlie Phillips has been named the Scottish nature photography book of 2016.
It features almost 100 images alongside Charlie’s accounts and recollections of recording the bottlenose dolphins that live in the Moray Frith, Scotland over many years.
SeaWorld attendances drop again
SeaWorld's latest financial results showed that around 30,000 fewer people visited its marine parks during the final quarter of 2016. Revenues were also down year-on-year as the company made a loss of nearly $12 million US dollars.
A number of staff lost their jobs last year as part of an on-going cost-cutting exercise as the company attempts to turn around its fortunes following years of criticism over its continued display of orcas in captivity.
China’s backwards step ignores growing public feeling against breeding orcas in captivity
Just as public opinion turns against keeping orcas in captivity, China has decided to launch a new orca-breeding facility.
Nine orcas have been revealed to the public, five male and four female, at the country's new breeding base at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Guangdong Province.
The move seems particularly strange coming as it does when organizations around the world are looking to end such breeding programmes like this and the public turns its back on cruel captivity shows.
Concern grows over rising dolphin and porpoise deaths in UK and France
The growing numbers of dolphins and porpoises washing up dead on the south west coast of the UK is continuing to cause concern.
Over 100 have been reported dead on beaches in Cornwall and in fishing boat nets in eight weeks, according to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, bringing the toll for last year to 205.
Dolphins suffering in Indonesian travelling circus caught on camera
Video footage taken by an animal welfare NGO in Indonesia has revealed the terrible conditions that dolphins are being kept in by travelling circuses in the country.
The creatures are put into tiny crates prior to being shipped between locations. They are then forced to perform in tiny tanks in shows that include having to leap through burning hoops. Local group, the Jakarta Animal Aid Network, are calling for an end to the practice, and for the local airline, Sriwikaya Air, to stop carrying the dolphins.
Virgin announcement signals another victory for WDC campaign against captivity shows
Another positive step in WDC’s campaign to end whale and dolphin captivity was taken today with an announcement by Virgin Holidays stating that they will no longer sign up any new attractions that feature captive whales and dolphins for theatrical shows, contact sessions (such as ‘swim-with’ programmes) or other entertainment purposes.
Revealed - how whales gulp massive loads of seawater without pain
Researchers from the University of British Columbia, Canada, who have been studying the feeding habits of whales that lunge feed, have uncovered the reason why these huge creatures are able to scoop up such massive volumes of water in their mouths without feeling any pain.
Steps taken to stop dead whales exploding at scene of mass stranding
The carcasses of some of the hundreds of dead pilot whales that stranded on a New Zealand beach in recent days are being punctured in order to prevent them from exploding near volunteers helping with the operation.
Well over 300 pilot whales died last week when they stranded at Farewell Spit despite a huge rescue operation. Another eight whales stranded yesterday (Tuesday), possibly those that had already been re-floated by rescuers days before.
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