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Bottlenose dolphins breaching

Landmark report reveals UK wildlife’s devastating decline

With whales and dolphins already facing many threats, a landmark report released this week reveals...
Dolphins with oil rig

Go ahead for new UK oil and gas exploration threatens whales and dolphins

Permission has been granted for the development of the UK's biggest untapped oilfield off Shetland,...
Icelandic hunting vessels in port

Whaling boat kept in port after more hunt cruelty exposed

Icelandic whale hunting fleet One of the whaling boats involved in the latest hunts in...
Commerson's dolphin

New Important Marine Mammal Areas added to global ocean conservation list

Commerson's dolphin Experts from a number of countries have mapped out a new set of...

Sad Death Of Newborn Captive Beluga No Surprise

WDCS is saddened, but not surprised, by the death of a newborn beluga at the Georgia Aquarium in the US.  No sooner had the aquarium announced the birth of the newborn female beluga to first-time mother Maris, they were announcing her death just five days later. 

The Georgia Aquarium currently has four beluga whales, and with this unsuccessful attempt at captive breeding, WDCS remains concerned that the aquarium will seek belugas from other facilities, or the wild. 

WDCS opposes whales and dolphins in captivity, and encourages all facilities to phase out their whale and dolphin exhibits to end the suffering that occurs throughout the process of captivity, from capture and transport, to captive breeding and premature death.  WDCS applauds Ocean Park Hong Kong’s recent decision to not import beluga whales for a new polar exhibit, and hopes that the Georgia Aquarium can look to Ocean Park as an example, and work towards phasing out its beluga programme.

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