The worldwide captivity industry threatens wild whale and dolphin populations and inflicts cruelty and suffering on thousands of individual animals.
We raise awareness of the impacts of captivity and fight for tougher regulations to protect whales and dolphins from capture and trade. We're building on our successes of new regulations already won, pushing for legislations in other problem areas around the world.
Our campaign is dedicated to a world free of whale and dolphin facilities, a world where people appreciate these remarkable animals in their natural environments.
ORCAS In Captivity: A Tragic Story
The tragic death of a trainer at Sea World’s park in Orlando, Florida, USA, is not a unique incident, it is just a further nightmare in the appalling and sad story of cetacean captivity
2010-February-25
ORCAS In Captivity: A Tragic Story
Tragedy struck at Sea World Orlando on Wednesday afternoon when a veteran trainer was killed by an orca named Tilikum. Eye witness accounts verify that the orca actively grabbed the trainer from poolside and dragged her forcibly underwater.
2010-February-25
Driven By Demand - The Cove
WDCS welcomes the announcement that The Cove has won BEST DOCUMENTARY at the OSCARS
2010-February-03
Corky - 40 Years Imprisoned. We Owe Her A Way Out!
Friday 11th December marks the 40th anniversary of a young female orca being taken from her family in the waters off British Columbia, Canada, to become a captive orca performing tricks to amuse people around the world. She was given the name CORKY.
2009-December-11
Court Decides In Favour Of WDCS In Case Against Nuremburg
On November 11th, the the Administrative Court Ansbach in Bavaria, Germany, accepted a motion by WDCS over the release of information about captive dolphins in Nuremburg.
2009-November-16
Drive Hunt Slaughter Continues In Taiji
Dozens have pilot whales have been the target of drive hunts in Taiji since the hunting season started in September, the issue highlighted in the acclaimed film The Cove.
2009-November-11
WDCS To Work With Merlin Entertainments On Better Future For Captive Dolphins
WDCS is committed to securing an end to the global tragedy of cetacean captivity.We are working closely with the visitor attractions company, Merlin Entertainments who has publicly committed to not holding cetaceans in public display facilities.
2009-October-23
Four Dolphins Die In Dolphinarium In Turkey
WDCS is asking for anyone considering swimming with dolphins, especially in Turkey, to consider the plight of the animals involved before paying to see or swim with them in captivity.
2010-March-05
Please Tell Miami Seaquarium Lolita Has Earned Her Retirement!
September 14th marks 39 years that Lolita, a female orca held at the Miami Seaquarium, has been kept in captivity. WDCS is asking people to call, fax, email, or mail the Miami Seaquarium to tell them it is time to let Lolita retire!
2009-August-11
WDCS Calls For Regulation Of Petting Pools
On July 6th, WDCS and a coalition of animal protection groups filed a citizen’s petition for rulemaking with APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service), the US federal authority under the Department of Agriculture responsible for the humane care a
2009-July-06
Please Say No To Dolphinariums In Europe
An alliance of European animal welfare groups need your help to put an end to the suffering of dolphins caused by captivity across Europe.
2009-July-06
WDCS To Work With Merlin Entertainments On Better Future For Captive Dolphins
WDCS has begun work with the global visitor attractions company, Merlin Entertainments, to undertake a feasibility study aimed at finding a permanent solution for the retirement and rehabilitation of a number of captive dolphins.
2009-September-20
Luxury Resort Exposed As Capturing Dolphins
With the star-studded launch party of the new luxury ‘Atlantis, the Palm’ resort in Dubai, WDCS has exposed the cruelty and hypocrisy behind their captive dolphin display.
2008-November-19
Threat From Solomon Island Dolphin Captures Continues
WDCS is very concerned at the continuation of captures and international export of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in the Solomon Islands.
2008-April-14
Dolphins Exploited For Military Purposes
It sounds like bad science fiction, but the US military is using dolphins to detect mines in war zones and intruders to naval bases
2008-March-24
Petting Pools - Biting The Hand That Feeds
Biting the Hand that Feeds: The Case Against
Dolphin Petting Pools
WDCS exposes the cruelty of the increasingly popular dolphin “petting pools.”
2008-March-23
Bottlenose Dolphins In Captivity
We all love dolphins, and the captivity industry has capitalised on this to make huge profits at the expense of the animals misery
2008-March-22
Orcas In Captivity
WDCS believes that Orcas are unsuitable for keeping in captivity. These remarkable creatures are imprisoned for profit and they are 'dying to entertain us'
2008-March-15
Live Captures
In its search for live dolphins, the aquarium industry is helping to fund brutal hunts in Japan, known as ‘drive hunts’.
2008-February-20
Dolphin Assisted Therapy
WDCS is calling for a total ban on Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT) because of the harm it can cause to both the people and animals involved.
2008-February-20