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Orca Lulu's body contained PCB levels 100x above the safe limit. Image: SMASS

Toxic tides, troubled whales: the toll of chemical pollution

In last week's blog, we examined the challenges whales and dolphins face as they travel...
Group of orcas at surface

Breaking barriers for whales and dolphins at the Convention of Migratory Species

Many species of whales, dolphins and porpoises undertake long journeys, encountering human-made obstacles along the...
Tokyo

WDC in Japan – Part 1: Finding allies in Tokyo

At the end of May, I embarked on an incredible journey to Japan on behalf...
Amazon river dolphins leaping

The state of river dolphin conservation

At Whale and Dolphin Conservation, we partner with conservationists and communities fighting to save river...
Researchers in Southeast Alaska studying whale poo

We’re funding crucial research on whale poo to combat the climate crisis

The ocean is one of the lungs of our planet, and whales help it to...
Narwhal surfacing

The unicorns of the sea must be protected – CITES

The narwhal, is under threat. Often referred to as the unicorns of the sea, narwhals,...
Sperm whales

We’re pushing governments for action for our climate heroes – whales

The climate crisis is the greatest threat to all life on Earth. But there is...
Dolphins captured for captivity in Taiji. Image: Hans Peter Roth

Loved and killed – whales and dolphins in Japan

Protests and criticism from outside Japan in response to the slaughter of whales and dolphins...

Southwest Airline’s “Transfarency” ad, not so fare to dolphins

As part of Southwest Airlines “Transfarency” campaign, a recent advertisement highlights a number of tropical get away spots the airline flies to.  When a customer asks about potential travel destinations, Southwest responds with the Jax Jones song refrain of “yeah yeah yeah.”  Unfortunately, when the customer asks if he can “swim with dolphins” when traveling, Southwest eagerly responds with more “yeah yeah yeah’s”. 

In 2014, WDC welcomed the news that Southwest had ended its 25 year relationship with SeaWorld after the release of Blackfish which raised concerns about the treatment of whales in captivity.  However, orcas are not the only species that suffer when confined.  Dolphins continue to be taken from the wild to supply the growing demand for swimming with dolphins and dolphin encounters. In captivity, dolphins have a lower survival rate than in the wild and the stress of their confinement often results in behavioral abnormalities, illness, and lowered resistance to disease and death.  

Southwest Airlines, WDC is asking you to take our Pledge Never to Plunge and end your promotion of swimming with dolphins.  Yes to low fares and faraway places but NO to swimming with dolphins!