Posts by Danny Groves
Darwin Initiative boosts whale and dolphin protection work in Senegal
WDC’s work to protect significant numbers of whales and dolphins dying in fishing nets and gear in Senegal, as well as other threats they face, has received a substantial Partnership Project funding boost from the Darwin Initiative. The Darwin Initiative is a UK government grants scheme that funds projects to protect biodiversity and the natural environment in developing…
Read MoreBeluga sanctuary update
Update: 1st July 2020 We have been working to relocate belugas, Little Grey and Little White from their landside care facilities to their sea sanctuary care pools at Klettsvik Bay this week – which we had planned for Friday. However, our vets have confirmed that both Little Grey and Little White have a very mild…
Read MoreSignificant victory for WDC in fight to save world’s smallest dolphins
A significant victory in the fight to save dolphins in New Zealand from extinction has been achieved after stricter fishing and environmental protections for the critically endangered Māui and endangered Hector’s dolphins have been sanctioned by the government. The move comes after a long campaign by WDC and gives the Māui and Hector’s a fighting chance…
Read MoreBeluga Whale Sanctuary Update
We’re pleased to confirm Little Grey and Little White are now just days away from being moved from their land based care pool into their new open water home in Klettsvik Bay, Iceland. We appreciate people’s interest and excitement in their move, as Little Grey and Little White prepare for this next step. Their welfare…
Read MoreBlue whales in New Zealand prefer to hang out in cooler waters
Researchers from Oregon State University studying blue whales in the South Taranaki bight, New Zealand have found a link between the whales, their feeding and changes in water temperatures. The findings, published in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series, reveal how certain conditions play a part in where the whales are and availability of their prey…
Read MoreFirst finless porpoise drone footage from Hong Kong revealed
The first ever drone footage of the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise has been captured by OceansAsia’s. The film shows a pod gathering in Hong Kong waters, a rare occurrence as they seldom come together in big groups. The large numbers of finless porpoise seen in the area since lockdown could be due to quieter waters. Restrictions on ferry…
Read MoreWhales in waters around Russia could still be captured
A Russian ‘expert’ working group has concluded that the exploitation of whales and dolphins for so-called cultural and educational purposes should continue. The working group was responding to a 100,000 thousand signature petition from members of the public in Russia asking the government there to end captures of orcas, beluga whales and dolphins for sale…
Read MoreWDC funded research shows ‘pingers’ could save porpoises from fishing nets
Underwater sound devices called ‘pingers’ could be an effective, long-term way to prevent porpoises getting caught in fishing nets without having negative effects on their everyday behaviour. Newly published research part funded by WDC shows that porpoises in the seas off Cornwall were 37% less likely to be found close to an active pinger. Pingers are…
Read MoreNearly 1000 humpbacks seen off southwestern Japan
Good news for whale watching operators and enthusiasts has emerged from Japan (a country normally associated with cruel whale hunts), where the number of humpback whales seen in waters around the southwestern coast of the country during the winter season has reached a record high of 971. Official figures reveal 578 groups consisting of a…
Read MoreBeluga whales prepare for June release into the world’s first open water sanctuary
We are pleased to announce that two former captive Beluga whales, Little White and Little Grey will return home to the ocean when they are released into the world’s first open water sanctuary for beluga whales in Iceland this June. The two whales are in their final stages of preparation and ready to be moved…
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