WDC launches major new captivity campaign

Today, WDC launches a major anti-captivity campaign aimed at the travel industry and their continued support for marine parks holding whales and dolphins in captivity. WDC calls on Richard Branson, as a founder of the Virgin brand and a member of the Ocean Elders group, to use his influence and stop Virgin Holidays promoting trips to SeaWorld parks. Other major UK travel companies promoting these trips include Cosmos, Thomas Cook, First Choice and Thomson.

As a passionate marine conservationist, Richard Branson, recently condemned the Taiji drive hunts in Japan where wild whales and dolphins are hunted each year or captured alive for captivity. Virgin Holidays promotes SeaWorld Parks which currently hold five  orcas in their tanks – whales who started their lives wild and free in the ocean.

There is no educational benefit in seeing orcas performing in circus style shows which have no value in informing the public about wild orcas and their habitats. Very little of SeaWorld’s annual revenue goes towards conservation.

Please join us in sending a strong message to Richard Branson and Virgin Holidays to end these promotions. Please sign our petition and share our campaign video – the more people who sign, the more chance we have of stopping the cruelty.