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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...

Dead orca calf found on Shetland beach after recent storm

The body of a young male orca calf has been discovered washed up on Shetland following Storm Caroline which struck the UK earlier this month.

The strength of the storm had left the body 25 metres from the shoreline. It appears the orca had become detached from his pod as winds reached over 90mph.

It is unclear if any other factors played a part in his death but there are serious concerns about the impact of pollution on whales and dolphins around the UK coastline.

Earlier this year, results were released from an autopsy carried out on the body of Lulu, a member of the British Isle's only resident orca pod, whose body was found on a beach on the island of Tiree in the Hebrides.

According to samples taken from Lulu’s blubber, the levels of PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) contamination were 100 times higher than safe levels for whales and dolphins.

WDC described the findings as a wake up call at the time: “We must ask ourselves how much we value our oceans and the majestic creatures that call it home.

“We have a duty to future generations to now fully implement meaningful conservation measures to make sure the tragic story of Lulu and her family is a turning point in our attitude and understanding towards the marine environment and not seen as an inevitable historical footnote.”

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About George Berry

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