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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...
All policy news
  • All policy news
  • Create healthy seas
  • End captivity
  • Prevent deaths in nets
  • Stop whaling
  • Strandings
Port River dolphins

New report reveals 100,000 dolphins and small whales hunted every year

When you hear the words ‘dolphin hunts’ it’s likely that you think of Japan or...

Minke whale hunts stop in Iceland

Iceland’s commercial hunt of minke whales has ended for this year. The common minke whale is the...

Australian Government to block Japanese whaling proposal

Japanese Government officials have reportedly confirmed that they will propose the resumption of commercial whaling...

Did Icelandic whalers really kill a blue whale?

*Warning - this blog contains an image that you may find upsetting* They say a...

Icelandic whalers breach international law and kill iconic, protected whale by mistake

Icelandic whalers out hunting fin whales for the first time in three years appear to...

Pregnant whales once again a target for Japanese whalers

Figures from Japan's whaling expedition to Antarctica during the 2017/18 austral summer have revealed that...

Doubts remain after Icelandic Marine Institute claims slaughtered whale was a hybrid not a blue

Experts remain sceptical of initial test results issued by the Icelandic Marine Institute, which indicate...

Japan set to resume commercial whaling

Reports from Japan suggest that the government they will formally propose plans to resume commercial...

End the whale hunts! Icelandic fin whaler isolated as public mood shifts

Here’s a sight I hoped never again to witness. A boat being scrubbed and repainted...

Norway increases whaling quota despite declining demand

Norway's government has announced an increase in the number of minke whales that can be...

Norway's whaling season begins

April 1st saw the start of the whaling season in Norway. Despite a widely-accepted international moratorium...

SOS alert for whales off Norway!

I have to admit to bitter disappointment when I arrived in Tromsø, northern Norway, a...

Captive beluga loses first calf

Earlier this year, we shared the sad news that Qinu, a beluga held at Georgia Aquarium, was pregnant with her first calf – a continuation of the horrible legacy of captivity.  Unfortunately, Georgia Aquarium has reported that Qinu’s calf died before birth.  This news comes after SeaWorld Orlando also announced the death of a newborn beluga calf this summer; another beluga was born at SeaWorld San Antonio this fall.

Belugas, like other whales and dolphins, are intelligent and social beings not suited to a life in captivity.  Many captive belugas sadly endure unsuccessful pregnancies or lose their calves at young ages.  The low survival rate of captive baby belugas is just one example of why belugas do not fare well in a tank.  After losing a multi-year battle to import wild-caught belugas from Russia, Georgia Aquarium committed to no longer take whales or dolphins from the wild.  We hope this most recent loss will inspire them to also end their captive breeding program before another beluga is forced to suffer the loss of her offspring.

You can help WDC end captivity for all whales and dolphins.  Sign our Pledge Never to Plunge with captive whales and dolphins and support our efforts to create a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free.