Baleen whales undertake some of the longest migrations on Earth.  These extraordinary journeys have a transformative effect on the transport of vital nutrients through the ocean, in a process known as the ’Great Whale Conveyor Belt.’  Whales transport and release thousands of tonnes of nutrients – including iron and nitrogen, which are vital for species…

Using local environmental knowledge and fishing community cooperation to map bycatch hotspots for finless porpoises Despite the popular image of Hong Kong as a thriving business and banking metropolis, an extensive small scale fishing industry continues throughout Hong Kong waters, despite all commercial trawling being banned in 2012. Entanglement in fishing gear is the most…

Researching and reducing threats to Senegal’s marine mammals and turtles. There are only 1,500 Atlantic humpback dolphins, or Sousa teuzsii left on Earth. Only found along the west coast of Africa, they are critically endangered and in desperate need of our protection. We need to stop them becoming the first dolphin species to be hunted…

WDC funds pioneering research project Whales are our allies in the fight against the climate crisis. Among other things, whales stimulate the production of oxygen in the sea by fertilizing the smallest algae in the upper sea layer (phytoplankton) with their excretions. Through their diving behaviour they promote the exchange of nutrients between layers in…

This video is original and shocking footage of the notorious Penn Cove orca captures, which occurred in August 1970, near Puget Sound, Washington State, in which seven, presumably Southern Resident orcas, including Lolita, were taken into captivity. As many as five orcas drowned in the nets during this process, where over 80 individuals were encircled.…

CMS is a UN treaty that enables countries to work together on  the conservation of migratory animals, including whales and dolphins,and their habitats. Why the convention is needed Whales and dolphins around the world face many threats and issues: being caught in active or discarded fishing gear, not finding enough food to eat, being hunted…

The porpoise family contains seven porpoise species. Porpoises hunt fast-moving fish, squid, and other sea creatures.  They have blubber to keep them warm, a single blowhole, and most have a dorsal fin and countershading camouflage which means they are darker on their back than their belly. The main physical differences between porpoises and dolphins are…

WDC has been at the forefront of river dolphin conservation for nearly 30 years. We have focused on working with local organisations and communities with education playing a vital role in our efforts. Colombia WDC supports ‘Natütama’, an Indigenous Ticuna Indian community conservation project based in the Colombian Amazon.  Here, people share their Amazon home…

The Moray Firth is home to about 200 bottlenose dolphins. The most northerly population in the world, these are a robust and hardy bunch of dolphins. Although the Moray Firth is considered the ‘core’ habitat of the dolphins, within a few miles of the coast, they travel widely. They have been seen to the north…

Watch out for whales and dolphins around Scotland with WDC Shorewatch Scotland is an amazing place to see whales and dolphins safe and free; local Shorewatchers are taking action to make sure that it stays that way. Shorewatch is a network of volunteers trained and supported by WDC to carry out regular 10-minute surveys from…