Posts by Danny Groves
Icelandic whalers kill first fin whales in four years
As feared, whale hunters in Iceland have killed at least two fin whales, the first to be killed in four years. Hopes remain that the cruel practice will end in 2023 after the country’s Fisheries Minister, Svandís Svavarsdóttir cast doubt over its future a few weeks ago, saying that there is now little justification for authorizing…
Read MorePumps and conveyor belts. How could more whales help save us?
Collecting humpback whale poo © Sarah Mastroni We are excited to announce backing for two ground-breaking research projects to assess the little understood impact whales have on marine productivity and carbon capture. The projects, run by scientists from US and UK universities, will explore the extent to which whales transfer vital nutrients as they feed,…
Read MorePumps and conveyor belts. How could more whales help save us?
We are excited to announce backing for two ground-breaking research projects to assess the little understood impact whales have on marine productivity and carbon capture. The projects, run by scientists from US and UK universities, will explore the extent to which whales transfer vital nutrients as they feed, defecate and migrate. The Alaska Whale Pump…
Read MoreUkraine invasion may have triggered dolphin deaths
Following reports a few weeks ago that military dolphins were being used by Russia as part of its invasion of Ukraine, it now seems that more dolphins may have been casualties in the ongoing war. Scientists think that the increase in noise pollution caused by Russian naval activity in the northern Black Sea could be…
Read MoreHigh mercury levels found in Japanese dolphin meat
According to reports from Japan, police there are investigating the sale of whale and dolphin meat containing potentially illegal levels of dangerous toxins. Action for Dolphins group say tests on samples of meat sold in the coastal town of Taiji reveal mercury levels up to 25 times higher that safe limits set by the government.…
Read MoreSweden’s last dolphin shows to end
Sweden will become dolphinaria-free following the announcement by Kolmården Zoo in Stockholm that it will be closing its dolphin facility, which currently holds twelve bottlenose dolphins. The Zoo says it wants to focus on the conservation of endangered species and end its 50-year-old era of keeping dolphins. The dolphinarium will remain in operation until the…
Read MoreLatest Taiji drive hunt season ends with many dolphins killed
Fishermen in the coastal town of Taiji, Japan have ended this season’s brutal dolphin hunt and, according to local sources, have killed or captured over 550 whales and dolphins. Species killed include Risso’s and striped dolphins as well as melon-headed whales and short-finned pilot whales. These drive hunts run from September to March or April…
Read MoreDeloitte chooses WDC as charity partner to help save whales and save the planet
We are delighted to announce that Whale and Dolphin Conservation has been chosen as a WorldClimate UK charity partner by leading global professional services firm Deloitte. The new partnership will help WDC grow its ambitious ‘Green Whale’ initiative, which seeks to establish whales as an ‘international public good’ and allies in the fight against climate…
Read MoreAnother orca dies in captivity
SeaWorld San Diego has announced the death of yet another orca held in captivity. According to reports Amaya, a six year old female orca died suddenly after showing signs of illness just a day earlier. She was the youngest orca at SeaWorld, and her mother, Kalia and her father, Ulises are also held at SeaWorld…
Read MoreAnimal culture crucial for conservation says new research paper
New research published today in The Royal Society Journal Proceedings B creates a compelling case for integrating the social learning and culture of creatures like whales into decision-making. WDC’s Philippa Brakes, together with a number of experts working on a wide range of species, from whales to chimpanzees, argues in the new paper that the…
Read More