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Whale and Dolphin Conservation partners with local artist for art auction

PLYMOUTH, MA - Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) has partnered with local artist Erik Simmons...
dolphin FB Fundraiser

e.l.f. Cosmetics announces new “porpoise-ful” initiative to benefit Whale and Dolphin Conservation

For Immediate Release, March 16, 2023 OAKLAND, CA - On the fins of its first...

Kiska the ‘world’s loneliest whale’ dies at Canadian theme park

Kiska, dubbed the loneliest whale in the world, has died at Marineland, a zoo and...
Grey seal is released from the kennel on the ocean side of Duxbury Beach

Why did the seal cross the road? WDC responds to a grey seal near Gurnet Point in Plymouth, MA

Grey seal is released from the kennel on the ocean side of Duxbury Beach For...

Tilikum's Health Rapidly Declining

WDC is saddened to hear the news that the health of Tilikum, the dark star of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, is deteriorating. SeaWorld reports that he has been lethargic for several weeks and is apparently suffering from a life-threatening bacterial infection in his lungs which they refer to as “chronic and progressive”. 

(Image of Tilikum “performing”/copyright P. Wigmore)

Tilikum 'performing' at SeaWorld


Despite WDC’s developing work to create sanctuaries for captive whales and dolphins, as well as Munchkin Founder Steve Dunn’s offer to support moving Tilikum to an ocean sanctuary where he could live out the remainder of his life, it appears that Tilikum will perish in captivity. Tilikum is a wild-caught, Icelandic orca taken from his family when he was just two years old and has spent the last 33 years confined.

We are heartbroken to learn of Tilikum’s fate, and although there is little we can do for Tilikum at this moment, we CAN continue making progress to end the cruel practice of captivity once and for all.  You can help as well…