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Conservation and Research Projects

Working worldwide to protect whales and dolphins and the places they live.

WDC has thirty years of experience conducting and supporting vital conservation, education and research projects around the globe.  Our goal is always to work with local communities, prioritize non-invasive techniques, and ensure that all research directly benefits the conservation of whales and dolphins.

North Atlantic right whale
Gulf of Maine, USA

WDC is fighting to protect one of the world’s most endangered whales. Around 350 whales survive.

Breaching North Atlantic right whale

Southern Resident orcas
Pacific Northwest, USA

We are supporting efforts to restore habitat for wild salmon, the main food for this endangered group of orcas.

Northern Resident orca Holly with a calf

Humpback whales
Gulf of Maine, USA

Our Adopt a humpback whale program supports our work to protect these whales who return each spring to feed.

two humpback whales feeding at the surface with seagulls flying around

Northern resident orcas
Vancouver Island, Canada

Our Adopt an Orca program helps support the work of Orcalab, the longest-running orca research project in the world.

Northern Resident orca, Fife, swimming at the surface

Humpback whales - Alaska

Supporting ground-breaking research with the first ever study of the "Whale Pump" in the North Pacific.

two humpback whales feeding at the surface with seagulls flying around

Bottlenose dolphins
Moray Firth, Scotland

For over 25 years, WDC has been at the forefront of conservation efforts to protect these amazing dolphins.

A leaping Bottlenose dolphin

Whales, dolphins, and their homes.  30 years of success:

North Atlantic right whales - WDC successfully campaigned to get a speed reduction law extended 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 Far East Russia Orca Project (FEROP), it has become increasingly difficult for marine parks to replenish their tanks with orcas taken from the wild off the coast of Russia.

Gray whale

Great whale conveyor belt

Migrating whales transport and release thousands of tonnes of nutrients, vital for phytoplankton, krill and fish to thrive.

Group of indo-pacific finless porpoises

Indo-Pacific finless porpoises - Hong Kong

Researchers working with local fishermen to learn more about these special porpoises.

Atlantic humpback dolphins - Senegal, West Africa

WDC is helping to fund local conservationists working to save these critically endangered dolphins.

Atlantic humpback dolphin group

Risso’s dolphins
United Kingdom

WDC’s research has already led to a proposal to create a marine protected area in Scotland where these dolphins live.

Risso's dolphins

River dolphins, South America

WDC has been at the forefront of vital river dolphin conservation for nearly 30 years.

River dolphin exhibition in museum
Male orca swimming at the surface of the water

Far East Russia Orca Project
Russia

Russian researchers are studying these amazing whales which are still a target for marine parks.

Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin

Port River dolphins
Adelaide, Australia

WDC works to protect this group of dolphins which unusually is living in an urban environment.

Make a difference-help us continue these projects

Join our team  - no matter which way you choose, your commitment helps whales, dolphins, and our shared planet.

Save the whales, save the world.

Humpback whale spyhop

Adopt

Adopt a whale and help us protect these amazing creatures.

Bottlenose dolphin calf breaching with its whole body out of the water

Join

You can join our team and help us save whales and dolphins

Breaching North Atlantic right whale

Donate

Your gifts help us take action for whales and dolphins.

Orca spyhop

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