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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...

Is this dolphin family doomed?

Wave was one of the matriachs of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary. She was born about 1992 and had the first (Bronny, a male) of her six calves in 2002. Her second calf (Ripple, a female) was born in 2006. Her last three calves all died and Wave disappeared after the death of her last calf in September, 2014. Wave is almost certainly dead.

Wave was famous for her tail walking and for surviving a horrendous injury in 2010.

About a week ago Ripple gave birth to her first calf, which we called Marea. We hope the calf survives but we noticed numerous lesions on thelittle dolphin’s head and we are gravely concerned, especially as Ripple was seen without the calf today.

And to add to our dismay, I just had a message that Bronny was found washed up on the shore of the Port River. At this stage we have no information on cause of death.

So in space of just a few years the death list is Wave (mother); four calves; and a “grand calf”. From a family of eight it seems there will be only two survivors. We did not manage to collect any of the dead calves but we do have Bronny’s body and we are hopeful the necropsy will give us information on the cause of death.

UPDATE: 11 February, 2015

Very sad update on our Adelaide dolphins… We did a survey today and located Ripple but there was no sign of her calf Marea. We are forced to conclude that Marea has died. There were two calves born in the Port River this summer that we know of and both have died.

To support our vital work with this fragile population and help us protect the remaining family members, please go to https://au.whales.org/adopt-port-river-dolphin