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Dolphins captured for captivity in Taiji. Image: Hans Peter Roth

Loved and killed – whales and dolphins in Japan

Protests and criticism from outside Japan in response to the slaughter of whales and dolphins...
Narwhal with beluga whales

Unusual Whale Adoptions

Kidzone - quick links Fun Facts Curious kids Blogs Fantastic fundraisers Gallery Splish and Splash...
Irrawaddy dolphin

Helping fishers protect dolphins in Sarawak, Borneo

Fishing nets are bad news for dolphins and porpoises, so we're working with local fishers...
Dolphin watching from Chanonry Point, Scotland. Image: WDC/Charlie Phillips

Discovering inner peace – whale and dolphin watching and mental wellbeing

Guest blog If you've ever seen whales or dolphins in the wild, you'll know that...
Whale tail

An ocean of hope

In a monumental, jaw-dropping demonstration of global community, the nations of the world made history...
North Atlantic right whale Porcia and her calf.

Critically Endangered Right Whale Babies Spotted

Kidzone - quick links Fun Facts Curious kids Blogs Fantastic fundraisers Gallery Splish and Splash...
The infamous killing cove at Taiji, Japan

Why the Taiji dolphin hunt can never be justified

Supporters of the dolphin slaughter in Japan argue that killing a few hundred dolphins every...
Image: Peter Linforth

Tracking whales from space will help us save them

Satellite technology holds one of the keys to 21st century whale conservation, so we're exploring...

Southwest Airline’s “Transfarency” ad, not so fare to dolphins

As part of Southwest Airlines “Transfarency” campaign, a recent advertisement highlights a number of tropical get away spots the airline flies to.  When a customer asks about potential travel destinations, Southwest responds with the Jax Jones song refrain of “yeah yeah yeah.”  Unfortunately, when the customer asks if he can “swim with dolphins” when traveling, Southwest eagerly responds with more “yeah yeah yeah’s”. 

In 2014, WDC welcomed the news that Southwest had ended its 25 year relationship with SeaWorld after the release of Blackfish which raised concerns about the treatment of whales in captivity.  However, orcas are not the only species that suffer when confined.  Dolphins continue to be taken from the wild to supply the growing demand for swimming with dolphins and dolphin encounters. In captivity, dolphins have a lower survival rate than in the wild and the stress of their confinement often results in behavioral abnormalities, illness, and lowered resistance to disease and death.  

Southwest Airlines, WDC is asking you to take our Pledge Never to Plunge and end your promotion of swimming with dolphins.  Yes to low fares and faraway places but NO to swimming with dolphins!  

About Regina Asmutis-silvia

Executive director - WDC North America