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Conservation and research projects

Working worldwide to protect whales and dolphins and the places where they live.

WDC has thirty years experience funding vital conservation, education and research projects around the globe.

Wherever possible, we work with local communities and a guiding principle of any research is that techniques used must be as uninvasive as possible for the species involved.

Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin

Port River dolphins - Adelaide, Australia

Our Adopt a Dolphin programme in Australia is helping to protect this group of dolphins which unusually is living in an urban environment.

Bottlenose dolphin calf

Bottlenose dolphins
Moray Firth, Scotland

For over 25 years, WDC has been at the forefront of conservation efforts to protect these amazing dolphins.

Group of indo-pacific finless porpoises

Indo-Pacific finless porpoises - Hong Kong

Researchers working with local fishermen to learn more about these special porpoises.

Breaching North Atlantic right whale

North Atlantic right whale - Gulf of Maine, USA

WDC is supporting the campaign to protect one of the world’s most endangered whales. Fewer than 340 whales survive.

Risso's dolphin

Risso’s Dolphins
United Kingdom

WDC’s research has already led to a proposal to create a marine protected area in Scotland where these dolphins live.

Orca spyhop

Northern resident orcas - Vancouver Island, Canada

Our Adopt an Orca programme helps support the work of Orcalab, the longest-running orca research project in the world.

Whales, dolphins and their homes.  30 years of success:

North Atlantic right whales - WDC successfully campaigned to get a speed reduction enforced to reduce the threat of ship collisions with whales.

Risso’s Dolphins - Thanks to WDC’s research and campaigning, the Scottish Government created a marine protected area where these dolphins are found.

Orcas - Thanks to the efforts of FEROP, it has become increasingly hard to marine parks to replenish their tanks with orcas taken from the wild off the coast of Russia.

Franciscana dolphin calf

Franciscana and Lahille's bottlenose dolphins - Patagonia, Argentina

WDC is supporting Fundacion Cethus and their conservation efforts for these rare species.

Atlantic humpback dolphin group

Atlantic humpback dolphins - Senegal, West Africa

WDC is helping to fund local conservationists working to save these critically endangered dolphins.

Southern Resident orca

Southern Resident orcas - Washington State, USA

We are supporting efforts to restore habitat for wild salmon, the main food for this endangered group of orcas.

Humpback whale

Humpback whales - Gulf of Maine, USA

Our Adopt a humpback whale programme helps to support our work to protect the whales which return each spring to feed.

River dolphin exhibition in museum

River dolphins, South America

WDC has been at the forefront of vital river dolphin conservation work for nearly 30 years.

Orca

Far East Russia Orca Project - Russia

Russian researchers are studying these amazing whales which are still a target for marine parks.

Humpback whale

Humpback whales - Alaska

Supporting ground-breaking research with the first ever study of the "Whale Pump" in the North Pacific.

Gray whale

Great whale conveyor belt

Migrating whales transport and release thousands of tonnes of nutrients, vital for phytoplankton, krill and fish to thrive.

Creel pots

Trialling whale-safe fishing ropes, Scotland

Collaborating with Scotland’s creel fishers to reduce entanglement of minke whales, basking sharks and other marine species.

Help protect whales and dolphins and their homes

By adopting a dolphin or by making a donation, you can help us save these amazing creatures.

Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin © Mike Bossley/WDC

Adopt

Adopt a dolphin and follow the lives of these amazing creatures.

Humpback whale

Donate

Your gifts help us take action to protect their homes.