Skip to content
All news
  • All news
  • About whales & dolphins
  • Corporates
  • Create healthy seas
  • End captivity
  • Green Whale
  • Prevent deaths in nets
  • Scottish Dolphin Centre
  • Stop whaling
  • Stranding
  • Whale watching
Vaquita. Photo Thomas Jefferson

Scientific Committee gives first ever official species extinction warning

Photo: Thomas Jefferson We have welcomed the urgent call by experts to protect the vaquita...
blue whale

Whale fossil from Peru may have been heavier than blue whale

Scientists examining the bones of a 39 million-year-old ancient whale have concluded that it may...
Humpback whale © Christopher Swann

Humpback whales breach in synchronisation

Humpback whales are renowned for their incredible acrobatic displays, but a family in the USA...
Long-finned pilot whale

Unusual activity witnessed before pilot whale stranding

Just days after a pod of long-finned pilot whales stranded on an island in the...

Antibiotics Killed Swiss Captive Dolphins

An evaluation by the Institute for Veterinarian Pathology has revealed that the use of antibiotics on two dolphins (“Chelmers” and “Shadow”) at the Connyland dolphinarium, Switzerland last November caused brain damage which then led to their deaths. An investigation into procedures followed by the vets responsible for the two dolphins is now underway.

The dolphinarium had previously accused animal activists of poisoning the dolphins.

WDCS has always been critical of the often intensive medicinal treatment of dolphins in zoos and entertainment parks.

“Highly dosed medicinal treatment is nothing unusual at dolphinaria”, says Dr. Karsten Brensing, conservation manager at WDCS Germany. “Furthermore, drugs are willingly used to control aggressions or improve the cooperation during the shows. One question remains: Who is responsible for the side effects? The vet who’s doing what he’s learned to or the keeper who is in charge for the insufficient keeping conditions?”

It remains to be seen if the evidence will result in consequences for the keeping of dolphins in Connyland as well as other dolphinaria in Europe.

Read the WDCS dolphinaria report here