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David Capello and Duchess. Image: The Perfect Pair Dolphin Trilogy

A former UK dolphin trainer reflects

David Capello and Duchess

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…

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Lolita the orca dies after half a century in captivity

Orca Tokitae (also known as Lolita) has sadly died of suspected renal failure after many decades held in captivity, and not long after plans to potentially release her into a sanctuary were announced. Tokitae was also given the name Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut by the Lummi Nation of Washington State. She died at the Miami Seaquarium after being kept…

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Group of orcas at surface

Breaking barriers for whales and dolphins at the Convention of Migratory Species

Many species of whales, dolphins and porpoises undertake long journeys, encountering human-made obstacles along the way. Danger lurks in various forms from fishing nets to harpoons, underwater noise to chemical and plastic pollution. I’ve just returned from a gathering of global scientists trying to find ways to allow them to travel freely. Species without borders A…

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Glenn Marshall from PCO with WDC at the Houses of Parliament.

We’re using cartoons to urge the UK government to end captivity forever

To mark the 30th anniversary of the closing of Britain’s last dolphinarium, and as part of our campaign to urge the government to #EndCaptivityForever by making it illegal, we staged a unique event at the House of Commons in conjunction with leading cartoonists from the Professional Cartoonists Organisation (‘Procartoonists’).   Professional cartoonist Glenn Marshall is…

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Thomas Cook expands ban on ticket sales to captive dolphin shows

Great news for our ongoing campaign to end captivity and stop tour operators selling tickets to, and promoting whale and dolphin shows. Travel company Thomas Cook has announced that it is to stop the sale of tickets to attractions where any are held captive. WDC worked closely with the former owners of Thomas Cook, advising them…

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