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New government marine wildlife code to help reduce dolphin disturbance

The launch today by UK Government of new guidance on how to act responsibly around...

UK government to extend ivory ban to stop the sale of orca teeth

Following the UK ban on the import, export and dealing of elephant ivory in 2022,...

Dead whale beauty products to be sold in Japanese vending machine stores

Antarctic minke whale alongside Japanese whaling ship. Photo © Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert Japanese whale hunting company,...

Arrests made following illegal whale meat smuggling from Japan to South Korea

Customs authorities in Busan, South Korea, have arrested six people for allegedly smuggling at least...

Tilikum's Health Rapidly Declining

WDC is saddened to hear the news that the health of Tilikum, the dark star of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, is deteriorating. SeaWorld reports that he has been lethargic for several weeks and is apparently suffering from a life-threatening bacterial infection in his lungs which they refer to as “chronic and progressive”. 

(Image of Tilikum “performing”/copyright P. Wigmore)

Tilikum 'performing' at SeaWorld


Despite WDC’s developing work to create sanctuaries for captive whales and dolphins, as well as Munchkin Founder Steve Dunn’s offer to support moving Tilikum to an ocean sanctuary where he could live out the remainder of his life, it appears that Tilikum will perish in captivity. Tilikum is a wild-caught, Icelandic orca taken from his family when he was just two years old and has spent the last 33 years confined.

We are heartbroken to learn of Tilikum’s fate, and although there is little we can do for Tilikum at this moment, we CAN continue making progress to end the cruel practice of captivity once and for all.  You can help as well…