Working worldwide to protect whales and dolphins and the places where they live.
WDC has thirty years' experience funding vital conservation, education and research projects around the globe.
Wherever possible, we work with local communities and a guiding principle of any research is that techniques used must be as non-invasive as possible for the species involved.
Risso’s dolphins
United Kingdom
WDC’s research has already led to a proposal to create a marine protected area in the waters where these dolphins live in the Hebrides.
Shorewatch - Scotland
WDC's Shorewatch project enables volunteers to collect vital sightings data from around the Scottish coastline.
Trialling whale-safe fishing ropes, Scotland
Collaborating with Scotland’s creel fishers to reduce entanglement of minke whales, basking sharks and other marine species.
Bottlenose dolphins
Moray Firth, Scotland
For over 25 years, WDC has been at the forefront of conservation efforts to protect these amazing dolphins.
Northern resident orcas - Vancouver Island, Canada
Our Adopt an Orca programme helps support the work of Orcalab, the longest-running orca research project in the world.
Southern Resident orcas - Washington State, USA
We are supporting efforts to restore habitat for wild salmon, the main food for this endangered group of orcas.
Whales, dolphins and their homes. Over 30 years of success:
North Atlantic right whales - WDC successfully campaigned to get a speed reduction enforced to reduce the threat of ship collisions with whales.
Risso’s Dolphins - Thanks to WDC’s research and campaigning, the Scottish Government created a marine protected area where these dolphins are found.
Orcas - Thanks to the efforts of FEROP, it has become increasingly hard for marine parks to replenish their tanks with orcas taken from the wild off the coast of Russia.
River dolphins - South America
WDC has been at the forefront of vital river dolphin conservation in the region for nearly 30 years.
Humpback whales - Gulf of Maine, USA
Our Adopt a humpback whale programme helps to support our work to protect the whales which return each spring to feed.
Great whale conveyor belt
Migrating whales transport and release thousands of tonnes of nutrients, vital for phytoplankton, krill and fish to thrive.
Atlantic humpback dolphins - Senegal, West Africa
WDC is helping to fund local conservationists working to save these critically endangered dolphins.
North Atlantic right whale - Gulf of Maine, USA
WDC is supporting the campaign to protect one of the world’s most endangered whales. Fewer than 360 whales survive.
Port River dolphins - Adelaide, Australia
Our Adopt a dolphin programme in Australia is helping to protect this group of dolphins which, unusually, is living in an urban environment.
Humpback whales - Alaska
Supporting ground-breaking research with the first ever study of the "Whale Pump" in the North Pacific.
Indo-Pacific finless porpoises - Hong Kong
Researchers working with local fishermen to learn more about these special porpoises.
Far East Russia Orca Project - Russia
Russian researchers are studying these amazing whales which are still a target for marine parks.
Help protect whales and dolphins and their homes
By adopting a whale or dolphin, by making a donation, or by fundraising for WDC, you can help us save these amazing creatures.
Adopt
Adopt a whale and follow the lives of these amazing creatures.
Donate
Your support helps us take action to protect their homes.
Fundraise
Run, bake, walk, cycle… what could you do to help?