Posts by Cathy Williamson
Is a good outcome possible for the jailed whales in Russia?
It’s not often that we report good news from Russia about whales and dolphins. We have been fighting for many years to end the capture of orcas and belugas from Russian waters for the aquarium trade. The bad news continued in 2018, as dozens of whales were illegally incarcerated in holding pens in Srednyaya Bay…
Read MoreOrcas and belugas held in appalling ‘whale jail’
You may have read the stories about the so-called ‘whale jail’ in Russia. If you have, you’ll have seen the sickening images of belugas and orcas crammed into tiny pens, having been taken from their families to supply the growing captivity industry in China and other countries. In December, we welcomed news that Russian authorities…
Read MoreHow long do bottlenose dolphins survive in captivity?
We urgently need your help Please make a donation today to support our work to end captive cruelty. Donate today We were happy to host Zoology student, Grace Long for a two week placement at our UK headquarters, in March. Grace is a student at the University of Exeter and she’s keen to get into…
Read MoreWhy whale and dolphin captivity is cruel – the science
In 2017, an important new academic book brought together all aspects of marine mammal welfare as a reference point for universities, students and all those working for marine mammal protection, welfare and conservation. Marine Mammal Welfare, Human Induced Change in the Marine Environment and its Impacts on Marine Mammal Welfare has a large section dedicated…
Read MoreHow do you build a beluga whale sanctuary?
Preparing a new home for two ex-captive belugas is a wonderful world first. The future of the two captive beluga whales we are building a sanctuary for, in a remote location in Iceland, is looking more certain by the day. As the weather improves and we get the necessary endorsements for our sanctuary to be…
Read MoreLuftfahrtverband Star Alliance: Keine Hilfe im Kampf gegen Delfinjagden in Japan
Jedes Jahr von September bis April sind Delfine und Kleinwale in Taiji Opfer grausamer Treibjagden. Die intelligenten Meeressäuger werden wegen ihrem Fleisch gejagt oder lebend gefangen, um an Zoos und Delfinarien verkauft zu werden. Dieses Blutbad findet trotz weltweiter Kritik immer wieder statt. Die Delfine erleiden einen unvorstellbar schmerzvollen Tod oder müssen miterleben, wie ihre…
Read MoreMajor airline alliance not willing to help stop Japan’s dolphin slaughter
I’m sure you are as sickened as I am that every year from September to April, dolphins and small whales are still subjected to a bombardment of stress and cruelty in Taiji, Japan as they are hunted for meat or captured alive for display in zoos and aquaria. This annual bloodbath flies in the face…
Read MoreHow do you move two beluga whales half way around the world?
I hope you’ve been enjoying following our story as we work to give two captive belugas a new home in a more natural ocean environment and I’m pleased to bring you our latest update. Whales and dolphins are simply not suited to a ‘life’ in the confinement of captivity and we are committed to doing…
Read MoreProviding answers to questions raised about sanctuaries
Last month, we reported on the devastating death of Jun Jun, a female captive beluga whale at Changfeng Ocean World in Shanghai, who was part of our project to develop the world’s first sanctuary for belugas. Sadly, Jun Jun will now never go to a sanctuary but our work to progress this project for the…
Read MoreA look Inside The Tanks
Recently launched on YouTube, Jonny Meah’s short documentary, Inside the Tanks, presents a balance of views on the keeping of whales and dolphins in captivity, centred on the one of only two facilities to keep orcas in captivity in Europe, Marineland, in the French Mediterranean resort of Antibes. Jonny accompanies marine biologist Dr Ingrid Visser, as…
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