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We're at COP28 to Save the Whale, Save the World.

We’re at COP28 to save the whale, save the world

Ed Goodall Ed is WDC's head of intergovernmental engagement. He meets with world leaders to...
Gray whales from drone.

We’re taking steps to uncover the mysteries of whales

Vicki James Vicki is WDC's protected areas coordinator, she helps to create safe ocean spaces...
We must protect our non-human allies. Image: Tom Brakefield, aurore murguet, johan63

We’re urging governments to protect all of our climate heroes – CITES

Katie Hunter Katie supports WDC's engagement in intergovernmental conversations and is working to end captivity...
The Natütama Foundation are dedicated to protecting endangered river dolphins. Image: Natutama

Guardians of the Amazon: protecting the endangered river dolphins

Ali Wood Ali is WDC's education projects coordinator. She is the editor of Splash! and KIDZONE,...
Amazon river dolphins. Image: Fernando Trujillo/Fundacion Omacha

Amazon tragedy as endangered river dolphins die in hot water

Ali Wood Ali is WDC's education projects coordinator. She is the editor of Splash! and KIDZONE,...
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin © Mike Bossley/WDC

WDC in Japan – Part 3: Restoring freedom to dolphins in South Korea

Katrin Matthes Katrin is WDC's communications and campaigns officer for policy & communication in Germany...
Wintery scene in Iceland

Seeking sanctuary – Iceland’s complex relationship with whales

Hayley Flanagan Hayley is WDC's engagement officer, specialising in creating brilliant content for our website...
Whaling ship Hvalur 8 arrives at the whaling station with two fin whales

A summer of hope and heartbreak for whales in Icelandic waters

Luke McMillan Luke is WDC's Head of hunting and captivity. Now that the 2023 whaling season...

Sightings galore for Big Watch Weekend

Shorewatch weekendWith so many amazing places around the Scottish coastline to watch out for whales and dolphins, you’re never too far away from witnessing an incredible wildlife moment, which we all love to see! That’s why on the 7th, 8th and 9th June 2013 we kicked the watching season off with a bang, in the form of the biannual Shorewatch ‘BIG Watch Weekend’; three days of continuous watching, getting as many trained Shorewatchers to do as many watches as possible from all of our sites. It was a record breaking year of sightings, and brought our Shorewatchers together in a fantastic team effort, sharing their sightings and promoting the important work that the WDC Shorewatch programme is carrying out.

Over the course of the weekend, 37 Shorewatchers from 16 sites completed 292 watches (up from 162 in June 2012), resulting in a record breaking 48.7 hours (over two days!!) of continuous watching! There were 51 positive watches recorded with an impressive total of 237 individuals sighted (up from 75 last year); comprising of bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise, common dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, minke whale and orca!!

I think it is safe to say that the weekend was a huge success; as well as all the watches carried out, the sun shone, prizes were won (most watches done etc.), and people had a great time being out and about around our beautiful coastline. It was a lovely weekend and a great way to start off the watching season and hopefully a glimpse of what is to come!

We couldn’t have done it without all of our amazingly dedicated Shorewatchers. Thank you for all of your effort! The valuable data that has been collected, recording the presence and absence of whales, dolphins and porpoises, allows us to get a much broader and detailed picture is what is going on around our coastline.