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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...
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Minke whale hunts stop in Iceland

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

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...

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...

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...

Icelandic fin whale hunting to resume

Iceland’s only fin whaling company, Hvalur hf,  announced today that it will resume fin whaling...

What we can do to save Southern Resident orcas

We’ve been hearing from many of you that you’re heartbroken about the loss of a newborn calf in the critically endangered Southern Resident orca community – we are, too.  It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to watch this tragedy unfold – sadness for the whales, angry at delayed action to save this unique community, anxiety that we may lose them forever.  But what we feel pales in comparison to what this family of orcas must be feeling as they watch another one of their own slip away.

As of yesterday (July 30th), Tahlequah (J35) was still carrying her dead baby, who was a female, through the waters of the Salish Sea.  As she is mourning the loss of her young, it is time for us to take action before we mourn the loss of the entire community. 

The challenges facing the Southern Resident orcas are complicated and often political.  And it can be frustrating to wait on the policy changes that will bring about protection and restoration of the ecosystem the orcas and the salmon they depend on need to survive.  But a sweeping change in policy – of how we live with and manage our salmon rivers, our coastal ecosystems, and our shared waters – is what is needed to ensure the future of this community of orcas.  Continuing with the status quo will not save the Southern Residents.  Bold, creative, and determined action from our elected leaders, communities in the Northwest, and Federal agencies is needed now more than ever, throughout the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, and California, before we witness another tragedy unfold.

Here are five things you can do today to help Southern Resident orcas:

1. Use your voice

  • Submit your comment directly to the Task Force and demand that they: 
    • fully and fairly consider ALL options to protect these whales.
    • do NOT to give in to special interest groups.
    • Take immediate action to help the Southern Residents and the salmon they depend on now, including ensuring the orcas have access to the salmon currently available. 
  • Reach out to your own elected officials and ask them to oppose any harmful changes to the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which provide crucial protections to this endangered population

2. Clean up your act

  • Take steps in your home to reduce the amount of contaminants entering the watershed. 
    • switch to natural household cleaning products
    • build your own backyard raingarden to filter out pollutants.

3. Choose your fish

  • Opt for salmon other than Chinook – try pink or chum salmon that are more plentiful.  If you do buy Chinook, make sure it’s from a sustainable fishery (the best kind is caught rivers in Alaska).
  • Say no to farmed salmon.

4. Add your name

5. Engage your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, everyone! 

  • Share the story of the Southern Residents and why they’re endangered.  The more people who know and love these orcas and demand action on their behalf, the better chance we have at saving them.