News from the world of whales and dolphins
This week we launched an important new campaign and I hope you'll add your name to our petition . We are urging the cruise company, Carnival, to stop exploiting dolphins.
Carnival offers its passengers 'shore excursions' to dolphin theme parks where holidaymakers can hug, kiss and swim with captive dolphins.
How do you think it would feel to be pawed at by a succession of strangers every day, trapped and unable to escape? Why do people think it's OK to subject dolphins to this?
Carnival is the biggest cruise company in the world. It owns big names like P&O Cruises and Cunard. As the industry leader, it's time they stepped up and set an example.
Would you believe that more than 550 dolphins are held captive in 68 facilities across Mexico and the Caribbean? These dolphins are imprisoned primarily to amuse cruise ship passengers on ‘shore excursions’. Every day, hundreds of tourists pour off the cruise ships and into dolphin theme parks to hug, kiss and swim with the captive dolphins.
There really is no place for exploitation like this in the 21st century - join us in calling on Carnival to sail the cruise industry out of the dark ages.
We achieve amazing things when we stand together and whales and dolphins are lucky to have you on their side!
Thank you for all your brilliant support.
Julia Thoms
WDC campaigns manager
Why Carnival?
While cruise passengers are still sold these shore excursions, dolphins will continue to suffer. We need your help to persuade big players like Carnival that it's cruel to exploit dolphins for the amusement of tourists. WDC End Captivity campaigner, Rob Lott explores the issue in his blog.
Hitting a brick wall
With your help, we've been working to stop airlines transporting dolphins captured for the 'entertainment' industry during the brutal hunts in Taiji, Japan. Major airline alliance, Star Alliance, doesn't seem to care if its members are complicit in the horror and has ignored all our approaches.
SOS for Norway whales
WDC Stop Whaling campaigner, Vanessa, has just returned from Norway wondering what the future holds for the whales who make their homes in Norwegian waters. Norway has a burgeoning whale watching industry and yet the government has just announced that it wants to kill more whales.
We've gone plastic-free
We've ditched the recyclable polythene wrap your supporter magazine was mailed in. Your latest issue arrived 'naked' and we hope you loved it! If you're not subscribed, what are you waiting for? Get the latest whale and dolphin news, features and photography every three months.
Win a whale watching trip to Iceland Enter our competition with Prizeo, offering you and a guest the chance to win a Game of Thrones tour and private whale watching trip in Iceland with Jerome Flynn! |
Check out our new clothing range We've been working with Teemill to develop a whole new clothing and accessories range that supports our conservation work and campaigns around the world. |
Our vision is a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free. Please consider making a donation today to support our work. Thank you.
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WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Our charity number is 1014705.
Image credits: Woman kissing dolphin - Shutterstock | Carnival ship - Shutterstock | Dolphin plane - Sean Rodwell | Orca sunset - Rob Lott | Whale & Dolphin - WDC | Prizeo - Prizeo | Teemill - Teemill
