leaders to listen to the ocean and save the whale, save the planet, save ourselves. You can help ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

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To save our planet we need to wake up and listen to the ocean 

Hi, we all know that we need to restore our forests but we can’t solve the climate crisis without protecting the ocean too. It covers three-quarters of the surface of the planet and absorbs up to 35% of our carbon emissions.

A healthy ocean needs whales and so members of our team are at COP26 – the UN’s 26th Climate Change Conference – in Glasgow right now. We’re calling on world leaders to restore the ocean as if our lives depend on it … because they do!

Read on to find out what we’re doing and how you can help us, and enjoy our new video from WDC supporter and Game of Thrones star Jerome Flynn.

On behalf of everyone at Whale and Dolphin Conservation, thank you so much for all your support,

Julia Pix

P.S. If you happen to be attending the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice march in Glasgow tomorrow, listen out for us and come and say ‚hello‘!

Find out what we’re asking governments to do and how you can help.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Be inspired by this message from our awesome patron Jerome Flynn:

Huge thanks to Jerome and our brilliant friends at RAW London for their generosity and support in creating this film for us for free.

Become a Climate Giant Hero

You can make a big impact on one of the world’s biggest challenges by getting behind the world’s biggest creatures – whales. Want to know more?YES!

Politicians need to listen to the ocean, so we sent them a dawn wake-up call. 

HEAR IT

Less than 1% of climate finance is spent on marine projects.

IT’S A DROP IN THE OCEAN

The ocean is our life support system and whales are its key workers

On average every whale helps remove as much carbon from our atmosphere as 30,000 trees.

Save the whale. Save the ocean. Save the world.

FIND OUT MORE

Please consider making a donation today

DONATE NOW

Welcome to your October enews 

This has been a tough month as we’ve responded to the atrocious massacre of at least 1,428 beautiful dolphins in the Faroe Islands, only 200 miles from Scotland.

We’ve been busy lobbying the UK government and Scotland’s first minister to take action and we’ve joined forces with colleagues at other organisations to combine our campaigning efforts on the ground and present our petitions together. We will make sure Prime Minister Bárður á Steig Nielsen feels the collective weight of our organisations and hears the voices of our supporters loud and clear. 

Meanwhile as Norway’s whalers kill more minke whales than at any time in the last five years, we reveal that whale meat is being sold as dog food or dumped in the sea.

Dealing with these horrors day after day isn’t easy, but we are motivated and energised by the knowledge that we have you on our side. Our supporters keep us going financially and emotionally and I wanted to thank you on behalf of everyone here at Whale and Dolphin Conservation. We really do rely on and appreciate your support – you’re brilliant!

With our very best wishes

Julia Pix, WDC

Faroes dolphin hunt

My colleague Astrid Fuchs has worked to try to end the hunts for more than 10 years. In this blog, she reflects on the reasons the hunts continue and why it’s so hard to find a way to stop them.

TELL ME MORE

What we’ve done to help

Since the massacre of at least 1,428 Atlantic white-sided dolphins in the Faroe Islands on 12th September, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to try to ensure this never happens again. Find out what were doing and sign the petition.

INFO & PETITION

Jumping for joy!

We’re excited to announce that our winter raffle is now open! If you’d like to win £1,000 or one of nine cash prizes then play by 18 January 2022. Entries cost just £1. Play whilst helping to protect whales and dolphins. T&Cs apply, over 18s only.

PLAY NOW

Going to the dogs

We recently discovered that six tonnes of whale meat was sent to a company offering dog sled tours. With fewer Norwegians wanting to eat whales, it seems that whale meat is being sold for dog food or dumped in the sea.

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Remarkable Risso’s

With your support, we’re protecting the Risso’s dolphins who live around the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. With a mix of field research and campaigning, we’ve learnt a lot more about them and got an area of sea protected for them.

FULL STORY

Events are back …

After a year of cancellations we were thrilled to support 13 brilliant fundraisers taking on Swim Serpentine for whales and dolphins. If you’re inspired by their story and want to take part in an event, we’ll help you every step of the way!

GET INVOLVED

Save ££ and whales

Launching today, the hit video game RAFT is on sale with this fin-tastic Steam Weekend Deal. Save 33% on your purchase this weekend and 15% of sales will be donated to WDC (to a max of $100K). Sale ends Monday 25th October.

BUY NOW

Please consider a donation to help us fight dolphin hunts

DONATE NOW

Please sign our petition – and help us stop the dolphin slaughter

The massacre of at least 1,428 Atlantic white-sided dolphins on the Faroe Islands on 12th September was beyond horrific. It was senseless, barbaric and has rightly shocked the world and many Faroese people. Help us make sure this never happens again.

We have joined up with Sea Legacy/One Voice to host this petition on their website. As you are already a WDC supporter, you don’t need to tick the box to opt-in to be kept up to date on the campaign by us, we’ll continue to send you your usual email news.

SIGN OUR PETITION

Strength in numbers

Since that terrible day, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes. The Faroese government committed to a review of the nation’s dolphin hunting, but this review has not happened. We’re pushing hard to make the prime minister keep his promise. Please sign our petition to show that the world is watching.

As media coverage dies down, we need to turn global outrage into international pressure to end this killing forever. So we’ve joined forces with Sea Legacy and Avaaz. We will combine our campaigning efforts on the ground and present our petitions together. We will make sure Prime Minister Bárður á Steig Nielsen feels the collective weight of our organisations and hears the voices of our supporters loud and clear.

Please add your voice. Almost 280,000 people have signed already – help us get to 300,000. We owe it to those poor, beautiful dolphins to make sure this never happens again.

Thank you.

Julia Pix, Nicola Hodgins, Astrid Fuchs and all the team at WDC

SIGN OUR PETITION

Please consider making a donation to help end the bloodshed

DONATE NOW

We need your help .

You may have seen the heartbreaking scenes emerging from Marineland in Ontario, where Kiska, the loneliest whale in the world, has been filmed violently thrashing her head against the side of her tank. This is too distressing to show. Kiska is a wild-caught Icelandic orca who has spent the last four decades in captivity. She was just three years old when she was taken from her family and condemned to a life in a barren, concrete tank.

Never has there been a greater urgency for whales and dolphins like Kiska to be retired to a coastal, open water sanctuary where they can enjoy their lives in a more natural environment.

Amaya was only six years old when she died at SeaWorld San Diego in August. She is the second orca to die in captivity since we launched our campaign calling on TUI to stop supporting this utterly cruel practice. How many more must suffer?

If you have signed our petition, thank you.  Now we need your help to fund our work to end captivity. Will you help make this generation of captive whales and dolphins the last ?YES, I WANT TO HELP WITH A DONATION

Will you play a part to help end captivity ? A donation from you, however small or large, will help us to:

• meet with TUI to discuss your concerns and deliver the petition which you have signed.
• monitor dolphin welfare at one of the facilities in China’s rapidly growing marine park industry.
• address EU lawmakers and stakeholders as part of our campaign to end whale and dolphin captivity in Europe.
• organise workshops and share the knowledge and expertise we have gained as a founding partner of the SEA LIFE Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary with organisations seeking to build coastal sanctuaries for captive whales and dolphins.

Thank you for your support , it means so much to us to know that whales and dolphins still held captive can count on you.

Donate today and help end captivity

Each whale and dolphin held captive by the facilities which TUI supports has a heartbreaking tale to tell. Here are just a few of their stories:

Lolita’s tank in Miami Seaquarium is so small, it’s illegal by US government regulations, yet it’s been her entire world for 51 years. In the wild, she’d cover 100 miles or more a day playing, socialising, looking for food and resting

Nanuq was just six years old when he was torn away from his home waters in Manitoba, Canada. He never saw his family again. He survived 25 years in captivity, sentenced to a stress-filled, lonely existence in concrete pools. 

Corky was stolen from her Pacific Northwest home on 11th December 1969 and sold into captivity – she’s been confined to a tank ever since. Held at SeaWorld San Diego, Corky is the longest serving orca prisoner in the world. 

Makaiko was captured in the brutal Taiji dolphin hunt and moved to Mexico. He was forced to push tourists with his nose and drag them as they held his fin. But Makaiko got tangled up in nets that had been put down after a storm and no one noticed. He suffocated and died.

We take your privacy and the protection of your personal data seriously. We recently made some changes to our privacy policy; this explains how we collect, store and manage your information.

Hi there, I’m pleased to bring you your September enews.

Have you signed our petition yet asking TUI to help end lockdown for captive whales and dolphins like Lolita, the orca in the photo above?

I’ll SIGN THE PETITION

Lolita was taken from the wild in 1970. Several other whales died in the nets and their bodies were filled with rocks by their captors so they would sink to the bottom and leave no trace. 

The tiny pool you see in the picture has been Lolita’s entire world for more than 50 years. She shares it with two Pacific white-sided dolphins and has not had orca company for more than 40 years.

Many of us have struggled with isolation during the pandemic. How has an intelligent, social, highly mobile and emotionally complex individual like Lolita coped with a 50 year lockdown? Some days I simply find it too painful to contemplate. Surviving is not living as my colleague Rob Lott explores through his personal recollections of meeting Lolita and another orca – Corky who has been in captivity even longer.

But there is hope because of people like you. Together we have the power to create great change. People are questioning and challenging captivity in far greater numbers than ever before. We have persuaded travel giants like Virgin Holidays and British Airways to stop supporting captive cruelty. Now we need to persuade TUI, the world’s largest tour operator, to join them.

On behalf of all of us at WDC and the 3,600 whales and dolphins held in tanks – thank you for playing your part.

Julia Pix, WDC.

WHEN ROB MET LOLITA AND CORKY

Another captive orca dies

Amaya was only six years old when she died at SeaWorld San Diego (pictured) in August. It breaks my heart to think that she’s the second orca to die in captivity since we launched our campaign calling on TUI to stop supporting this cruelty

FIND OUT MORE

Baby dolphin rescued

Atlantic white-sided dolphins usually live offshore, so when they showed up in a Scottish harbour it was clear they were in trouble. Hear how this newborn dolphin and her/his family were rescued by an inspiring show of human teamwork.

THE STORY

Be a citizen scientist

if you live in Scotland, you could join our Shorewatch team. Our Shorewatch volunteers are trained to look out for whales and dolphins, and the data they collect helps us lobby for better protection.

TELL ME MORE

Shop with us

Did you know we have an online shop? We have an extensive range from cuddly whales to clothing made from recycled materials, plus handcrafts and homeware made by artisans from around the world.  All profits go towards protecting whales and dolphins.

SHOP WITH US

Message in a bottle

The plastic going into the ocean every year (up to 23m tonnes) weighs as much as 10 times all the blue whales alive today! So we’ve joined with BRITA to release a shocking new report which serves as a wake-up call from the ocean.

LEARN MORE

New game launched

WDC partner Curve Digital’s new game I Am Fish launched today on Steam! Join Goldfish and his friends in making a break for freedom to the sanctuary of the sea. A portion of sales is being donated  to help us protect whales and dolphins.

BUY TODAY

Please consider making a donation today

DONATE NOW

Have you signed the petition yet ✍️?

If you’ve already signed – thank you! We experienced some technical issues with our website last week which meant that some people had difficulty reaching the page. This is all resolved (*crosses fingers!*) and so, if you were one of those people, please try again now because every signature counts.SIGN THE PETITION

After more than a year of lockdowns, we know what it feels like to have our world shrink and our freedom taken away. But whales and dolphins are still captured from the wild, kept in tanks that are far too small for their needs, and made to perform for our entertainment.

Thanks to your support we have already persuaded Virgin Holidays, British Airways, TripAdvisor and others to stop supporting this cruelty.

Now we need your help to persuade TUI to join them, so we’re calling on the world’s largest tour operator to help end lockdown for captive whales and dolphins. 

Please share the petition with everyone you know, on social media or by email. If you’ve already shared, please share again!

Thank you for your continued support  – we’re able to fight and win on behalf of whales and dolphins because of you.

Julia Pix.

Please consider making a donation today to end captivity 

DONATE NOW

Lockdown never ends

Meet some of the whales and dolphins held captive in ‚attractions‘ supported by TUI. Each of them is an individual and every story is a tragedy. Find out more and join the campaign.

MEET THE WHALES AND DOLPHINS

Morgan’s daughter dies

We were heartbroken to hear that little orca Ula (pictured) had died at Loro Parque in Tenerife just weeks before her third birthday. How many more of these tragedies will it take before people accept that captivity is wrong and isn’t working?

TELL ME MORE

Sanctuary solutions

Little White and Little Grey are the residents of the first sanctuary for captive whales. Covid has caused delays but preparations continue for their release to the bay. With 3,600 whales and dolphins held in tanks, sanctuaries are vital.

WHAT’S THE LATEST?

Learn and save

Ever wondered how fin whales can swim so fast? With this engineering and physics book bundle by Mercury Learning – you can figure it out! Head on over to Humble Bundle now to grab this bargain – save £££ while supporting WDC.

BUY TODAY

Cruel whale tests ended

We were relieved that the hearing experiments in Norway ended with no whales tested. But we are outraged that it was ever allowed. The researchers plan to try again next year and, with your support, we will oppose them all the way.

GET THE FULL STORY

Whaling an ugly stain

The Olympics are over and we’re looking forward to the Paralympics next week. But while Japan’s government says it wants to hold the greenest games ever, it is still sanctioning the slaughter of our climate allies – whales. 

WHALES AND CLIMATE CRISIS

Please consider making a donation today to end captivity 

DONATE NOW

We’re launching a major new campaign and we need your help today

Lockdown never ends for captive whales and dolphins, thanks to holiday providers like TUI.  Please sign our petition – ask TUI to end its support for cruel captivity.

SIGN THE PETITION

After more than a year of lockdowns, we know what it feels like to have our freedom taken away and our world shrink.

But whales and dolphins are still captured from the wild, kept in tanks that are far too small for their needs, and made to perform for our entertainment.

Thanks to your support we have already persuaded Virgin Holidays, British Airways, TripAdvisor and others to stop supporting this cruelty.

Now we need your help to persuade TUI to join them. Please sign the petition and share it as widely as you possibly can. More signatures means more chance our voices will heard.

Thank you for your support, it means the world to know that we can count on you. Together we achieve amazing things!

Julia Pix, WDC

FIND OUT MORE & SIGN THE PETITION

We take your privacy and the protection of your personal data seriously. We recently made some changes to our privacy policy; this explains how we collect, store and manage your information.

Welcome to your whale and dolphin news 

Yesterday was World Orca Day so in celebration, I thought you might enjoy this beautiful image of a family travelling together in British Columbia, Canada. So peaceful yet so purposeful. Let’s all take a deep breath with these magnificent orcas! Thank you for everything you do to help us protect them.

If you were one of more than 90,000 people who signed our petition to stop the cruel experiments on live whales in Norway – thank you! If you haven’t yet signed, please do sign and share. The permit has run out for this year but the researchers plan to start again next summer and we want to get the petition to 100,000 signatures before we present it to Norway’s prime minister to ask her to think again.

Thank you ever so much for your continued support and I hope you enjoy this month’s e-news.

Julia Pix, WDC.

HELP GET THE PETITION TO 100,000!

Adopt an orca

World Orca Day is a day for increasing awareness and protection of these incredible creatures and the ocean they live in. Did you know you can adopt an orca from just £4 a month? You’ll protect their home to give them a safer future.

MEET THE ORCAS

Plastic Free July

We all need to reduce our plastic footprint. An easy place to start is by refusing items that are only designed to be used once. We’ve got tips for simple swaps for everyday items.

GIVE ME TIPS

Keep out – kids only!

Ever wondered if whales have belly buttons? Find out the answer to this question and many more on Kidzone, the new section of our website just for kids (and curious grown ups)

.DO WHALES HAVE BELLY BUTTONS?

Whale experiments halted

Thank you to everyone who signed our petition to stop the cruel hearing tests in Norway. Thankfully the permit has expired with no whales experimented on. But we need to stop plans to try again next year.

TELL ME MORE

Shark Bay spongers

This dolphin is using a sponge to protect her from scratches as she forages for food. This tool use is just one example of the incredible multi-cultural dolphin society of Shark Bay, Australia. What we know about them is mind-blowing!

AMAZE ME!

Whale-killing spree

Norway’s atrocious whale hunt looks set to be the deadliest for years with more than 450 whales killed already this season. Most of the dead will likely be pregnant females

.WHAT’S GOING ON?

Baby orca rescue

This little orca, now named Toa, was found alone and stranded near Wellington, New Zealand this week. Rescuers are searching for his family.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Please consider making a donation today

DONATE NOW

Summer fun.

We’ve got lots of ideas for the whole family to help you make the most of your summer.Kids t shirt £8.60

Adventure kit from £2.10

Hand painted pendants £25

Recycled rug £14.50

Bamboo travel mug £9.50

Bathing from £4.85

Blue whale £7.50

Grow green £8.99

Stacking rings £35 each

Straight straw set £6.90

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WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Our charity number is 1014705.
Image credits: WDC