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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...

Beluga whale calf dies at Georgia Aquarium

The latest beluga whale calf to be born at the Georgia Aquarium has died, less than a month old. Its mother, a whale named Maris, gave birth on May 10th but after failing to gain weight during its critical early weeks, the calf did not survive. Initial diagnosis suggests that it was suffering from gastrointestinal issues.

The death is the latest in a long line of beluga calf deaths in captivity. It comes as the Georgia Aquarium and other captive facilities continue to try to import more beluga whales from Russia despite serious concerns about any conservation benefits and the negative impact this might have on the wild population from which they were captured.

In 2013, the US authorities turned down their original application and the aquarium subsequently appealed against the decision. WDC is one of a number of groups that has provided scientific evidence to support the defence of the decision.

About George Berry

George is a member of WDC's Communications team and website coordinator.