A Whale of A Week, World Orca Day, TUI, Stop Promoting SeaWorld & How to Report Whale Disturbances!

This World Orca Day, please spare a thought for the dozens of magnificent, intelligent orcas trapped in cramped tanks at marine abusement parks. Will you help them by urging TUI – one of Europe's largest travel providers – to stop selling tickets to SeaWorld and other facilities that hold them captive?

By promoting SeaWorld and other orca prisons, TUI is giving a financial lifeline to facilities that force orcas to spend their entire lives in concrete tanks that are, to them, equivalent to the size of a bathtub.

In captivity, orcas' sonar bounces back at them off of the concrete tank walls, driving them insane. Out of frustration, they gnaw at the cage bars and walls that confine them, breaking their teeth. At SeaWorld, orcas are given anti-anxiety drugs to relieve the stress of captivity and the endless monotony of swimming in small circles.

No travel provider should line its pockets at the expense of the animals held in these watery prisons.

Call On TUI to Stop Promoting SeaWorld

We've received catastrophic news for recovering right whales: the Maine congressional delegation has asked President Trump to block desperately needed whale protections!

On behalf of special interests, they're asking President Trump to prevent the development of new regulations to protect right whales from deadly entanglements in fishing gear.

We don't have time to play politics with right whale protections. Every death brings this species closer to extinction!

A brutal string of right whale deaths has wildlife lovers heartbroken and the crisis isn’t over yet.

A 40-year-old grandmother was killed when a ship struck her. Her death was followed by that of a nine-year-old male, a 34-year-old grandfather...and by the time June was over, six adult right whales had been killed by human activities.

Urgent! Support right whales today. Your donation will protect right whales and other imperiled animals.

Now there’s an emerging new deadly threat to whales: oil companies seeking to conduct deafening seismic testing for offshore drilling exploration in right whale habitat.

And, once these species go extinct, we’ll lose them forever.

Whales and dolphins use sound to communicate with their mates and their young and to find food. The explosive sonic bursts involved in seismic testing would add round-the-clock deafening blasts. Imagine a mother and her newborn calf being separated because they cannot hear one another – for vulnerable calves, separation means death.

That’s why we’ve gone to court to prevent risky seismic blasting.

Besides fighting deadly seismic testing, your support will help us advocate for the SAVE Right Whales Act – a measure to protect the whales from ship collisions and entanglement.

Last year, not a single right whale calf was born. This year brought a remarkable seven new calves, but with whale deaths outpacing births, the population is in freefall.

Help with our urgent efforts to save right whales and other imperiled wildlife.

Every death pushes these majestic animals closer and closer to the point of no return.

How to recognize and report disturbance of whales and dolphins

Did you know that it is illegal to disturb whales and dolphins in the UK? Raise awareness for these wonderful creatures and spread the word that it's #RudeToIntrude.

If you ever see disturbance, report it to the Police on 101 and ask for an incident number. We are incredibly lucky in the British Isles to have more than 20 different species of whales, dolphins and porpoises visiting our shores, and Scotland is one of the best places to see them.

We regularly witness disturbance first-hand and receive many reports from concerned marine wildlife enthusiasts. Of particular concern is the lack of awareness of the existing laws around disturbance by members of the public using boats, jet skis, or even kayaks and paddleboards.

This has prompted Whale and Dolphin Conservation, partnering with the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, to collate some more tips to help you make sure your time on the water is enjoyable and doesn’t harm the amazing creatures who live there: bit.ly/DNdisturb

Coffs Harbour, Dolphin Wingmen, Dr Clegg, What a Whale of A Week and Your Dolphin Outlook this week!

Weak, starving and undernourished, Southern Resident orcas are on the edge of extinction, and females are miscarrying at a terrifying rate. Only 76 of these endangered orcas remain.

We need to raise $80,000 during our 2019 Summer Membership Drive to help protect these orcas, vulnerable whales and our oceans. YOU can be a part of our work to make that happen.

Renew your membership now with a gift of $10 or more before midnight on June 30 and help us push through measures to help orcas and the world’s oceans recover >>

We are actively working with partners throughout the Pacific Northwest to develop sweeping recovery goals and bold action to recover the salmon that these orcas desperately need to survive.

With support from Wavemakers like you, we’re calling on key decision makers to:

1. Prioritize and accelerate habitat restoration for Chinook salmon.

2. Increase and maximize beneficial spill over the lower Snake and Columbia River dams and support actions to remove the four lower Snake River dams.

3. Increase and secure funding for pollution prevention and clean-up programs.

4. Commit to a noise reduction goal with immediate actions to reduce harmful noise.

We can’t stop now though – maintaining our momentum depends on achieving the goal to keep critically endangered Southern Resident orcas from disappearing for good and protect the world’s oceans.

Study Discovers Dolphin Bachelors Use Wingmen

Emily Peterson from In defense of Animals writes, Do male dolphins have the equivalent of a “wingman?” According to a recent study, the answer is yes! Male dolphins in South Australia have been found to work with other males to court potential mates – a cooperative behavior that is virtually impossible for dolphins in captivity.

In the wild, male dolphins form social groups with other males, typically with those in their bloodline, to increase their chances with “the ladies,” and ultimately, reproduction. Lead researcher, Dr. Fernando Diaz-Aguirre explains that the male dolphins in south Australia’s Coffin Bay might form these groups with relatives because, “the groups clearly tend to favour relationships based on blood relations.” Simply put, dolphins, similar to humans, feel the most comfortable with family!

Sadly, males in captivity are unable to form these dynamic social groups with their relatives. Instead, their ability to control their reproduction is stolen from them while they are held in tanks with random groups of dolphins.

Captive females are also denied any control over their socialization and are often forced to undergo the invasive and unpleasant procedure of artificial insemination. Unable to form natural social groups or control their reproduction, dolphins in captivity are deprived of two essential and vital aspects of their lives.

Please consider helping to support our critical advocacy work for dolphins and whales. 

And, Sarah Lucas at Action for Dolphins reports how it has been an exciting few weeks for the five dolphins currently residing at Dolphin Marine Conservation Park. UK expert Dr Isabella Clegg has been observing their behaviours to see how the dolphins might fare in a sanctuary environment.

Dr Clegg has a background in animal behaviour and welfare, and a Masters in Marine Mammal Science. As part of her PhD, Dr Clegg developed her own cetacean welfare index, the C-Well Index.

Dr Clegg conducting her observationsDolphins are sentient and emotional beings. A number of welfare considerations need to be taken into account to ensure they can thrive in a sanctuary. 

Dr Clegg has been observing each dolphin’s individual behaviours and personalities. The data she collects will be vital for transitioning them to sea pens.

Please help to continue this Australian-first study.

Support the study to help relocate five dolphins to a sanctuary

Dr Clegg speaking to NBN News about the animal welfare assessment

Dr Clegg has experience working with sanctuary projects around the world. Her assessment is a vital step in the feasibility study to building Australia’s first dolphin sanctuary.

We have potential locations and designs ready for the sanctuary, as well as input from animal welfare experts around the world. It’s all coming together, but there are still tests to complete before we can try to build it.

Please click here to support the feasibility study to build a dolphin sanctuary in Coffs Harbour

Orca Rain Gardens, Endangered Blue Whales, Unusual Mortality Event, Modoc on A Whale of a Week!

Follow our Northwest Representative Robb Krehbiel as he works in the community to build and fund orca rain gardens in Tacoma, Washington.

You're part of a wildlife dream team. And I just wanted to express my appreciation for your support.

Also, I’d love to introduce you to one of your fellow wildlife lovers. Robb Krehbiel is our Northwest Representative, based in rainy Seattle.

Robb lives in orca country. And all that rain Seattle gets washes all manner of city pollution into Puget Sound. That’s a big reason why orcas and other ocean wildlife in the region are hurting.

But as this 3-minute video shows, there are solutions. And some of the best pollution stoppers are literally child’s play.

Please enjoy this video. We made it for you and other members of our wildlife community. And don’t forget, none of this can happen without your continuing support!

Endangered Blue Whales

Take Action: West Coast Orcas to Be Hurt by Navy War Games

The U.S. Navy is planning massive training exercises in the Pacific that could injure thousands of marine mammals. These activities include sonar, explosives, air combat and torpedo testing along the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.

West Coast orcas are already in crisis and can't afford more stress. Sonar and other noise from these war games can deafen and kill whales. They also interfere with communication and feeding.

This has led NOAA officials to declare this startling number of deaths an Unusual Mortality Event, or UME.

You might be asking yourself: "What does a UME declaration mean?"

This means that NOAA can rally the troops, so to speak, to find out more about these gray whale deaths. The Marine Mammal Center is a key partner for this investigation.

But you see, none of this vital work is possible without your help. Once we figure out why so many gray whales are dying, we’ll be able to inform concerned people like you how you can help.

Our experts are already hard at work, but Friend your support will allow our scientists to continue rigorous investigations on why these whales are dying.

The time has finally come! After working hard on refitting the newly purchased vessel "The Modoc", the hull is cleaned, the engines are running and the bridge is ready for action. A big shout out to all the great volunteers, that helped making this happen. 

For the first voyage the Modoc is heading down the West Coast to Ensenada Mexico, where the final touch-ups are being taken care of, before setting sails to Central America and across the Pacific.

After months of relentless hard work the Modoc is getting ready. Over the past 6 month the crew has grown to 13 dedicated volunteers that will get the boat ready for future missions to Central America and across the Pacific. 

On the first part of the voyage, the Modoc will be cruising through the beautiful Puget Sound - home to the Orcas. While refueling and restocking on essentials, the crew will stop over in Port Townsend till every last bit is ready and fastened for the open waters.

Once in open waters Ensenada, Mexico is the next port of call. There will be 2 more planned stop-overs in Los Angeles and San Diego, where the much longed-for Schiebel S100 drone will join the Modoc.

This will be put to great use in fields of fishery patrols, in particular  for locating illegal fishing vessels and recording positions and times of law infringements across the pacific. 

See more about the Schiebel S100 Camcopter UAS here.

This is your chance to get involved in something awesome. Since we're refitting and running an entire ship now, there's a great chance we can get you on the team.  You are a keen worker and want to make an impact? Don't be shy.  Click on the links above, or send me an email.