Guardians of the Amazon: protecting the endangered river dolphins
In my last blog, I shared the devastating impact of the climate crisis on the Amazon and the river dolphins who call it home. But that’s not the only threat facing these remarkable beings. As human populations continue to transform rivers and pollute waters to serve our own needs, the future for these dolphins is looking particularly bleak. So today, I want to tell you how we’re working to ensure their survival by supporting the communities that live alongside them.
Read MoreBreaking 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 way. Danger lurks in various forms from fishing nets to harpoons, underwater noise to chemical and plastic pollution. I’ve just returned from a gathering of global scientists trying to find ways to allow them to travel freely. Species without borders A…
Read MoreHelping fishers protect dolphins in Sarawak, Borneo
Fishing nets are bad news for dolphins and porpoises, so we’re working with local fishers in Hong Kong and Sarawak, Borneo to save lives and make sure they can coexist. The rivers of Sarawak, a state on the northwest tip of the southeast Asian island of Borneo, are home to Irrawaddy dolphins, Indo-Pacific finless porpoises…
Read MoreWhen porpoises and people overlap
We’re funding a project in Hong Kong that’s working with fishing communities to help save the vulnerable finless porpoises who share the sea with them. When you picture Hong Kong, you probably think about a thriving business and banking metropolis, but did you know that living there, within some of the busiest waters in the…
Read MoreProgress for our campaign as New Zealand takes action to protect dolphins from fishing nets
Following our long-running campaign to save endangered Hector’s dolphins, the New Zealand government has announced action … but will it be enough? Hector’s dolphins live only around New Zealand and their safety and survival is at risk from dying in fishing nets as ‘bycatch’. We’ve been campaigning hard to get the most dangerous nets banned…
Read MoreA breath of fresh air – why I love studying beautiful Commerson’s dolphins
Lockdown in Argentina has been long and tough and so I was excited when restrictions eased and we could finally visit our Commerson’s dolphin field research project. After spending close to a year in confinement in my home city of Buenos Aries, it was literally a breath of fresh air to travel to the beautiful,…
Read MoreAmazing, beautiful Commerson’s dolphins and what we’re doing to protect them
Have you heard of Commerson’s dolphins? These little-known dolphins are beautiful, full of character and in trouble. We’ve been studying and working to protect them for 25 years now and to celebrate I thought I’d share the lives of these remarkable dolphins with you, including the story of a wonderful dolphin mother named Frank. WDC…
Read MoreTragic tale of the UK orcas facing extinction
If you watched David Attenborough’s Extinction: The Facts, you’ll have heard the tragic account of the group of orcas known as the West Coast Community. They face almost certain extinction because of human chemical pollution. These orcas spend their time between Scotland, Wales and Ireland and until 2016 it was believed that there were nine…
Read MoreWe’ve won protection for Māui and Hector’s dolphins, but is it enough?
After decades of our campaigning, the New Zealand government has finally released the Threat Management Plan (TMP) for the Māui and Hector’s dolphins who live only around this country’s shores. It’s more protection than these dolphins have ever had before and we are grateful to the New Zealand government for pushing hard for these changes,…
Read MoreHow has the world changed for whale and dolphin protection?
A veteran conservationist looks back… I’m Dr Mike Bossley and I’ve been engaged in research, conservation and education for the past 50 years. I’ve worked with and for WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation for about 25 of those years, having headed-up Greenpeace Australia in the late 1970s and early 80s. Although technically semi-retired, here I…
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