WDC in Japan – Part 2: Digital dolphins
Welcome to the second chapter of my incredible journey to build alliances in Japan. As promised in my last blog, I am going to tell you about my experience at a magical exhibition. This opportunity came about through an invitation from one of the many inspiring individuals I had the privilege of meeting in Japan…
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Icelandic government lifts suspension on cruel hunts
The Icelandic government is to allow fin whales to be hunted again after lifting a suspension introdcued this summer because the slaughter was ruled unlawful on welfare grounds. In an announcement today, Svandís Svavarsdóttir (minister) says that whaling will be allowed again under certain regulations. She says that supervision will be increased significantly. The regulation…
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A former UK dolphin trainer reflects
It’s been 30 years since the last dolphin show closed its doors in the UK. But shockingly, it’s still not illegal to keep a whale, dolphin, or porpoise captive. We talked to David C Holroyd (stage name David Capello), a top dolphin trainer during the early 1970s boom in whale and dolphin ‘attractions’. Despite being…
Read MoreOrcas are not attacking boats say leading scientists
A number of leading scientists and marine mammal experts, including WDC’s research fellow, Erich Hoyt, have called for an end to sensationalised reporting of orca interactions with boats. There has been widescale public interest in the stories of orcas coming into contact with marine vessels along the coast of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal)…
Read MoreNew WDC pollution report points to UK toxic tragedy
Our new report into chemical pollution paints a grim future for the dolphins, whales and porpoises that inhabit UK waters. Exposure to toxic pollutants (chemicals and heavy metals) is leading to cancer, foetal deaths, problem births and stillbirths in these marine mammals, with chemical pollution worsening the impact of natural infections by suppressing their immune…
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Toxic tides, troubled whales: the toll of chemical pollution
In last week’s blog, we examined the challenges whales and dolphins face as they travel the ocean, shedding light on the human-made hurdles they navigate. However, amongst these visible obstacles, there’s a hidden danger – chemical pollution. Illusion of dilution You’d think that the sheer size and vastness of the ocean would dilute any chemical…
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