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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...

Tilikum's Health Rapidly Declining

WDC is saddened to hear the news that the health of Tilikum, the dark star of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, is deteriorating. SeaWorld reports that he has been lethargic for several weeks and is apparently suffering from a life-threatening bacterial infection in his lungs which they refer to as “chronic and progressive”. 

(Image of Tilikum “performing”/copyright P. Wigmore)

Tilikum 'performing' at SeaWorld


Despite WDC’s developing work to create sanctuaries for captive whales and dolphins, as well as Munchkin Founder Steve Dunn’s offer to support moving Tilikum to an ocean sanctuary where he could live out the remainder of his life, it appears that Tilikum will perish in captivity. Tilikum is a wild-caught, Icelandic orca taken from his family when he was just two years old and has spent the last 33 years confined.

We are heartbroken to learn of Tilikum’s fate, and although there is little we can do for Tilikum at this moment, we CAN continue making progress to end the cruel practice of captivity once and for all.  You can help as well…