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About whales & dolphins

Welcome to the world of whales and dolphins

We still know relatively little about many of these species. Some have only been identified from bones and live in the deepest and most remote places in the ocean. Only by finding out more about their lives can we develop meaningful conservation measures that will protect them and their homes.

Blue whale

The world of whales and dolphins

An introduction to these amazing creatures and their lives beneath the surface. There is so much we still have to learn...

Breaching North Atlantic right whale

Meet the whales

Whales come in all shapes and sizes. Some you will probably be familiar with, others are so elusive and rare that even scientists have never seen them!

Pair of leaping bottlenose dolphins

Meet the dolphins

From the awe-inspiring orca (killer whale) to the tiny franciscana, dolphins are incredible. They are perfectly adapted for their aquatic world.

Harbour porpoise

Meet the porpoises

Porpoises are smaller than most dolphins and generally shy. The seven species includes the vaquita, the most endangered species of cetacean.

Brain Power

Dolphins have long been recognised as having a high degree of intelligence and are often compared to humans and other animals. But how exactly do you measure how intelligent a dolphin is? After all, their needs are very different to ours.

Stories from the surface

We are still learning so much about whales and dolphins. From the discovery of fossils that help tell us how they evolved, to new species being identified, here are some of the latest stories about these amazing creatures.

Rare sighting of northern bottlenose whale in UK

A group of fishermen had an unusual encounter off the coast of Northumberland recently when...

New findings highlight decline in North Atlantic right whale population

The past five years have seen the population of North Atlantic right whales fall from 482 in...

Abu Dhabi identified as key habitat for Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins

A survey of dolphins off the coast of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United...

Dolphins in New Zealand listed on US Endangered Species Act

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has agreed to list the Maui Dolphin as...

Help us keep all whales and dolphins safe and free

By adopting a dolphin or by making a donation, you can help us protect 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.