Whale and Dolphin Spring 2018

HOW WE GET YOUR ADOPTION UPDATES

LOOKING BACK AT THREE DECADES OF INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENTS

The magazine of WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation

PLASTIC PERIL

Eight million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean every year.

You can help clean up the seas

Spring 2018 Issue 81

HOW WE GET YOUR ADOPTION UPDATES

LOOKING BACK AT THREE DECADES OF INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENTS

The magazine of WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation

PLASTIC PERIL

Spring 2018 Issue 81

Eight million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean every year.

You can help clean up the seas

Dear friends

WDC EDITOR Julia Thoms NEWS EDITOR Danny Groves EDITORIAL BOARD Alison Wood; Rob Lott; Helen Mitchell PUBLISHED BY WDC Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Brookfield House, 38 St Paul Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 1LJ, United Kingdom Registered Charity No. 1014705 Registered Company No. 2737421 T +44 (0)1249 449500 (from outside UK) E info@whales.org WDC also has offices in Argentina, Australia, Germany and the USA PATRONS John Craven; Monty Halls; Miranda Krestovnikoff; Michaela Strachan; Julia Bradbury PUBLISHING AND ADVERTISING Managing editor Alec Mackenzie Sub-editor Andrew Littlefield Design Dominic Scott Advertising Alison Fraser Account director Helen Cassidy Think Scotland, Suite 2.3, Red Tree Business Suites, 33 Dalmarnock Road, Glasgow G40 4LA Tel 0141 375 0504

Whale & Dolphin is published four times a year and distributed to WDC supporters, institutions, conservation bodies and others involved in whale and dolphin conservation.

Whale & Dolphin has been printed by Newnorth, on acid-free paper that is produced from sustainable forests. Royal Roto is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), originates in the Netherlands and is produced by SAPPI Europe, which holds ISO 14001 certification and is a member of the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

Contributions: WDC cannot guarantee the return of unsolicited articles, photographs etc. Reproduction of articles is not permitted without approval. Opinions expressed in Whale & Dolphin do not necessarily reflect those of WDC. Advertising policy: WDC reserves the right to refuse an advertisement without explanation. WDC does not necessarily endorse any of the products or services advertised. WDC is unable to recommend specific whale watching trips and cannot vouch for the quality of the trips advertised; go to whales.org/ whalewatching for more information on choosing a trip.

ISSN 1470-4595 Main image: Shutterstock Cover image: João Vianna / Getty

Welcome to your spring issue of Whale & Dolphin, from the team at WDC. This year we are celebrating our 30th birthday and while it’s amazing that we have been campaigning and protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises for three decades, I have to say, it’s never got any quieter fighting for a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free.

There is no time to pause. Across the globe we are building on the expertise and skills we have developed over the past 30 years, working to stop whaling, creating solutions for the prisoners of the captivity industry, campaigning to end the tragedy of entanglement in fishing gear and protecting the areas of ocean that whales and dolphin need in order to thrive. We’re also fiercely committed to finding solutions to the cumulative threats of plastic litter, noise pollution, climate change and man made pollutants, all of which risk turning the oceans into increasingly inhospitable waters both for whales and for us.

And throughout all this, as we have travelled on this journey of discovery and as science has caught up with our passion, we have championed the fact that whales and dolphins have an intrinsic right to life and liberty.

Not only are these remarkable fellow creatures essential components of healthy marine ecosystems, but also, as complex social individuals and societies, they challenge us as a species to recognise that we don’t need to go to the stars to find other intelligences. They are already among us, enriching our lives and inspiring us to be better custodians of this shared planet.

Updates from the world of whales and dolphins

Sign up to our e-newsletter at whales.org/newsletter @WHALES_org @whaleanddolphinorg

Our story so far and what the future holds

Chris Butler-Stroud, WDC chief executive

04 News facebook.com/ whales.org

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12 Campaigns

A plague of plastic pollution is endangering the lives of whales and dolphins across the world, but with your help we can turn the tide

16 Heroes

See how WDC supporters are doing their bit to beat plastic litter

18 Adoption

We talk to Charlie Phillips, Regina Asmutis-Silvia and Paul Spong and Helena Symonds about the dedication and technology that make our adoption programmes possible

22 Ask the experts

WDC chief executive Chris Butler-Stroud reflects on WDC success stories over the last 30 years, and looks to the challenges that still lie ahead

24 Gallery

Photographer Andrew Sutton shows us the tragic impact of plastic in our ocean

26 Adoption updates The latest news about your favourite dolphins, humpbacks and orcas

33 Face to face

Kirk Grant reveals how St Vincent is moving from whaling to whale watching Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 3

BREACHING NEWS

WDC

Reporting from the world of whales and dolphins

UK

TV STARS BACK OUR OCEAN PLASTIC PROJECT

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here is no doubt that plastic pollution is causing a major problem for the marine environment.

The colossal amount of plastic waste from singleuse water bottles and other sources equates to more than the combined weight of every single living blue whale (the largest creature ever to have inhabited the earth), while every foot of the world’s coastline contains enough plastic to fill five grocery bags.

This number is set to double to 10 bags full by 2025.

WDC’s #NotWhaleFood project is supported

by BRITA and is being backed by WDC patrons Julia Bradbury and Michaela Strachan. To begin with, WDC staff and volunteers conducted an Urban Beach Clean outside the Houses of Parliament to highlight the fact that up to 95% of the plastic in the seas comes from litter originally dropped in our towns and cities.

Britons use 7.7 billion single-use plastic water bottles a year but recycle 4 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

only a limited number, with many more finding their way into the sea through rivers and waterways, where they break-down into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic that are often toxic and easily eaten by marine species.

Julia said: ‘I am proud to be helping to launch the #NotWhaleFood project with Whale and Dolphin Conservation and BRITA. The volume of plastic in our seas and the impact it has on beloved species such as whales and dolphins is one of the most pressing environmental problems of our time, and something that we should all be profoundly concerned about.

We all have a responsibility to tackle this problem.

From carrying reusable water bottles to cutting down our usage of plastic bags, there are so many small changes we can make to have a positive impact. We can’t afford to delay.’

If you’d like to organise your own Urban Beach Clean – visit whales.org/urbanbeachclean

UK

RAFFLE WINNERS Congratulations to Mr R McLelland from Glasgow who won the top prize of £1,000, and to all our other Christmas raffle winners.

If you’d like to take part in our next raffle keep an eye on whales.org, your e-newsletters and the summer issue of Whale & Dolphin magazine for more information.

JOÃO VIANNA / GETTY

BREACHING NEWS

INTERNATIONAL UK

WHALE & DOLPHIN GOES PLASTIC FREE

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ou may be aware that we have been looking for a non-plastic alternative to the recyclable polythene wrap that your copy of Whale & Dolphin was mailed in. A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped by responding to our call-out on Facebook for examples of subscription and membership magazines that don’t arrive in plastic wrapping.

It wasn’t as simple a task as you might think. Lots of you, quite sensibly suggested ‘just use a paper envelope’, and while that

might have seemed the most logical solution on the face of it, it is actually a far more expensive method. We had to balance cost against meeting our environmental responsibilities and so we kept looking for a less expensive alternative. So, this magazine comes to you as what’s known as a ‘naked’ mailing with no wrapping at all.

We really hope it reaches you in great condition, but if it has been damaged, please do let us know at info@whales.org or on Facebook – we’d love to know what you think.

USA

DOLPHIN DIES AT DESERT MARINE PARK You may remember that we brought you news last year about the controversial opening of a new dolphinarium in the Arizona desert in the US. Barely a year after the opening of the Dolphinaris marine park in Scottsdale one of the dolphins, Brodie, has died.

The construction of the Mexican-owned Dolphinaris, which has the potential to hold up to 12 dolphins, has come in for widespread criticism from the local community and beyond, not least because of the extreme heat in the region.

A statement from the park said that the dolphin was suffering from a ‘rare muscle disease’.

GAMING STARS RAISE $5.2M FOR CHARITY

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or the second year running, WDC was delighted to be chosen as one of the charities supported by The Yogscast’s annual ‘Jingle Jam’ fundraiser, resulting in a critical boost of almost $600k to help us protect whales and dolphins – the biggest donation that WDC has ever received.

The Jingle Jam is a charity event where The Yogscast team stream live broadcasts on the gaming platform Twitch, encouraging their fans to buy a bundle of video games kindly donated by publishers and developers all over the work through the online video game store Humble Bundle, with all of the proceeds going to their chosen charities.

To thank The Yogscast and their fans for their support, last year WDC gave them the honour of officially naming one of the bottlenose dolphins WDC helps to monitor and protect in the Moray Firth, Scotland. The team chose the name ‘Honeydew’ for an impressivelooking male dolphin, after the nickname for Simon – one of The Yogscast’s founder members.

We’re pleased to report that Honeydew was spotted several times in 2017, including bow riding a ship entering Cromarty.

NORTH AMERICA

REGINA ASMUTIS-SILVIA

US AND CANADA MUST ACT TO SAVE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES WDC and our conservation and animal protection partners are seeking action by the United States and Canada to prevent the painful, deadly entanglements in fishing gear that threaten the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. In letters to Canadian officials and the US-based National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), our coalition demanded that something be done to reduce the threat posed to these whales.

The North Atlantic right whale is one of the world’s most endangered mammals, with only an estimated 450 individuals remaining on the planet. Over 3% of their population was lost in 2017 alone.

WDC has insisted that NMFS fulfil its obligations, under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act, to review protective measures for the species and adopt additional protective measures to prevent further entanglements. The demands were made in a legal notice that gives the service up to 60 days to correct the violations and avoid further legal actions.

Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 5

BYCATCH LAWS BEING IGNORED

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DC has released a study as part of our ongoing efforts to highlight the major problem of accidental capture and deaths of whales, dolphins and porpoises in fishing nets.

The research, which was featured in UK national media, reveals how many countries (and their fleets) are flouting European law regarding the reporting, monitoring and prevention of these deaths, with Spain being one of the worst offenders.

Accidental entanglement in fishing nets and gear (bycatch) is the biggest global threat to whales, dolphins and porpoises, killing

hundreds of thousands of individuals every year. Trapped and unable to breathe, some endure terrible wounds and broken bones and teeth as they try to escape.

When they can’t struggle any more, they will close their blowhole and suffocate.

WDC’s researchers looked at nine years of data from 2006 to 2014, from 15 EU Member States fishing in the North East Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic Sea, which showed that implementation of the regulation has varied

by Member States, and also between years.

Whilst some Member States have implemented the regulation to a good extent, e.g. the

WDC’s Nicola Hodgins participates in wildlife summit

INTERNATIONAL

UN AGREES STEPS TO PROTECT WHALES AND DOLPHINS

MARK SIMMONDS

A major United Nations wildlife summit, attended by a WDC team, has reached agreement on steps to reduce threats to whales and dolphins around the world by identifying areas where they live, feed and breed.

The 130 nation members attending the 12th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) meeting in Manila adopted a landmark 6 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

Netherlands, only the UK has implemented their obligations fully, and implementation by Spain, Finland and Sweden has been poor.

‘What this study shows is shocking. The UK is way above the others, but this is not a level playing field,’ says WDC’s Dr Fiona Read, the report’s author. ‘The EU needs to strengthen bycatch protection measures.

Better compliance measures are also urgently required in an effort to continually reduce bycatch and stop these amazing creatures suffering in their thousands, putting both individuals and a number of populations of porpoises and dolphins at risk.’

resolution agreeing to help with the identification of areas in the ocean that are important to whales and dolphins.

These areas can then be used to manage human activities within them, such as fishing or oil and gas exploration, eventually leading to the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) and other conservation measures that will help reduce the man-made threats that whales and dolphins face each day.

PETER ROWLANDS GREENPEACE

EUROPE

BREACHING NEWS

UK

£8K DONATION IS A LOT TO LAUGH ABOUT

IRELAND

SHOCKING EXTENT OF PLASTIC POLLUTION REVEALED A new study published in the academic journal Environmental Pollution has revealed the shocking reality of plastic debris polluting the ocean.

According to data compiled off the coast of Ireland by researchers at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and University College Cork (in collaboration with Irish Whale and Dolphin Group), almost 10% of whales, dolphins, and porpoises examined were found to have plastic items in their digestive tracts.

Furthermore, the study found that 8.5% (45 individuals) of those tested had marine debris in their stomachs and intestines, and

that deep-diving species (like Cuvier’s beaked whales), ingested more plastic than those individuals who roam the seas closer to the coast.

In one of the largest studies of its kind, information was gathered between 1990 and 2015 from whale and dolphin strandings and accidental capture in fishing nets in Ireland.

Eleven different species were analysed and a range of plastics were found inside the creatures, including plastic bags, wrappers, fishing hooks and even shotgun cartridges.

Turn to pages 12 to 17 find out more about the issue and what you can do.

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n September, our UK office received an unexpected boost in the form of a donation of nearly £8,000 from our long-term corporate supporters, Animal Friends Pet Insurance.

WDC was selected to take part in a special Facebook competition along with fellow oceanfocused charities MCS and BiteBack, splitting a total prize of £20,000. Facebook users chose their favourite charity by liking a post with one of three specially assigned emojis – in WDC’s case, the ‘ha ha’ emoji.

More than 1,200 supporters from all over the world cast their votes for WDC and helped us to secure the donation – much needed funds that will support our ongoing work to protect whales and dolphins. If you were one of these supporters – thank you!

UK

We’re excited to introduce you to Moonlight’s son, Shadow, and Spirit’s daughter, Sprite.

Thanks to Maureen Dutton and Katie Allsop for suggesting the name Shadow. Katie told us, ‘I like the name since he’s playing with and is as fast as his brother, Lunar, which would mean he’s shadowing him and learning quickly.’

Thank you to Brooklyn Byrne, Joan Stevenson, Mrs M Matthews, Sandra Goodyear and Susan Zivanovic, who all suggested the name Sprite.

Dolphin field officer Charlie Phillips says it really suits this little dolphin’s spritely personality.

WDC / CHARLIE PHILLIPS

BABY NAMES ANNOUNCED

Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 7

WDC

BREACHING NEWS

EUROPE

STOP WHALING CAMPAIGN RECEIVES BOOST

THE EU NEEDS TO USE THE LEVERAGE OF THE TRADE TALKS TO CONVINCE JAPAN TO STOP KILLING WHALES 8 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

WHALE TUSK WDC

campaign and many raised grave concerns over Japan’s ongoing hunting, asking the committee in no uncertain terms to convince Japan to stop whaling and abide by international agreements.

As a result, the committee chairperson then took the unusual decision to keep the petition open and for the committee to write a personal letter to the EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, to voice concerns over the silence on whaling in the trade talks, and to point out the strong stance that the EU Parliament has already taken on this matter.

WDC’s stop whaling programme lead, Astrid Fuchs said: ‘This is extremely good news. The EU Parliament does have the power to say ‘no’ to the conclusion of the current trade agreement with Japan.

Japan has demonstrated that it won’t abide by international environmental agreements, so the EU needs to use the leverage of the trade talks to convince Japan to stop killing whales.’

Thank you if you were one of those who signed the petition and who were mentioned by the members of the EU Parliament. With your continued support, we can stop whaling once and for all.

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retired Canadian mounted police officer has been sentenced to 62 months imprisonment by a district court in the United States for money laundering offences connected to the illegal import of hundreds of narwhal whale tusks into the US, with a street value totalling millions of dollars.

Special agents from the United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and from Environment and Climate Change Canada, investigated the scheme where illegal narwhal tusks were trafficked across the US border.

© FORT UNE ET AL

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DC’s campaign to have Japan’s whale hunting raised as part of future trade negotiations between the European Union and Japan took a big leap forward in November 2017, after representatives from WDC were invited to address the EU’s own petitions committee.

The opportunity to talk face-to-face with EU representatives came as a result of our petition, run in partnership with Care2 and supported by almost 270,000 people, which asked for Japan’s whale hunts to be raised in any future trade talks with the EU, and which was later requested by some members of the European Parliament to be kept open due to their strong concerns around the issue of whaling.

Representing WDC at the EU committee session, David Pfender (pictured above) used the opportunity to mention Japan’s continued violation of the international ban on whaling, and its additional flaunting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

During the discussion, a number of MEPs voiced their support for WDC’s

USA

THOMAS JEFFERSON

BREACHING NEWS

JAPAN

SMUGGLER JAILED Ex-Mountie Gregory Logan, 60, used false compartments in his car to smuggle around 300 tusks into the US. He then sent them on to customers throughout America. Logan also provided false documentation claiming that the tusks had originally belonged to a private collector who had acquired them legally.

Narwhals are medium-sized toothed whales that are native to the Arctic. They are known for their distinctive ivory tusk, which can grow to more than eight feet in length and are valued for their use in carvings and jewellery making. The whales are shot at by hunters from motorboats.

EX-MOUNTIE GREGORY LOGAN, 60, USED FALSE COMPARTMENTS IN HIS CAR TO SMUGGLE AROUND 300 TUSKS INTO THE US CANADA

BOWHEAD WHALES FILMED EXFOLIATING Bowhead whales have, for the first time, been filmed in Cumberland Sound in Nunavut, Canada rubbing themselves on rocks to remove dead skin.

While local Inuits and whalers had previously documented sightings of whales indulging in this activity, until now it had never been clear exactly why they do this. With the help of drones, researchers have been able to see that large pieces of dead skin are removed during the rubbing process.

Bowhead whales are only found in the Arctic and can live in excess of 200 years.

134 SEI WHALES ILLEGALLY KILLED

The latest round of Japanese whale hunts, controversially carried out for ‘scientific’ reasons, has ended after four months with a total of 262 whales killed.

According to the Japanese Fisheries Agency, the hunting fleet slaughtered 128 minke whales and 134 sei whales in coastal and offshore waters in the north western Pacific in order to see (among other things) what was in their stomachs.

This research will be released in a report to the International Whaling Commission (IWC – the global body that regulates whale hunts).

Just days after the fleet left port, a committee of scientific experts at the IWC had backed previous conclusions by an independent panel that the north Pacific hunts were ‘currently unjustified, and should be halted’.

Japan plans to kill a total of 304 whales per year along the coast and offshore waters in the north western Pacific between 2017 and 2028.

Under the regulations laid out by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – an international agreement between governments that ensures trade in specimens of wild animals does not threaten their survival – Japan’s slaughter and trade of sei whales is illegal.

JAPAN PLANS TO KILL A TOTAL OF 304 WHALES PER YEAR IN THE NORTH WESTERN PACIFIC BETWEEN 2017 AND 2028 Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 9

SANCTUARY NEWS

MORGAN MUST BE SAVED

Life in a sanctuary would offer hope for this long-suffering orca held at Loro Parque in the Canary Islands

In 2010, Morgan was found alone in the Wadden Sea off the coast of the Netherlands by a Dutch government patrol vessel. Underweight and seemingly lost, Morgan was captured under a rescue, rehabilitate and release permit and taken into a captive facility, Dolfinarium Harderwijk, with the aim of caring for her until she could be returned to the wild. Held for many months in a small tank that she quickly outgrew, and deemed by the dolphinarium to be only 18 months old at the time of her capture, Harderwijk declared her unfit for release and applied to transfer her to Loro Parque, where a deal was quickly struck.

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EU legislation governing CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, places strict conditions on trade in whales and dolphins, prohibiting the import into the EU of wild-caught individuals for commercial purposes. The directive offers less protection to captive-born individuals, and also allows exemptions to the import ban, including for ‘research or education aimed at the preservation or conservation of the species’.

This exemption enabled Loro Parque to import four captive-bred orcas from SeaWorld in the United States in 2006 and transfer Morgan from the Netherlands in 2011. Despite this, Loro Parque has published no research which benefits wild orcas, and Morgan and the other five captive orcas (including Adan, born in 2010) are kept primarily for entertainment in the zoo’s circus-style shows.

In 2012, a document made public about SeaWorld’s assets listed seven orcas at Loro Parque under SeaWorld’s ‘ownership’, including Vicky, a calf who died in 2013, and Morgan.

The orcas therefore fell under the ban on breeding implemented by SeaWorld in 2016.

In November 2017, however, SeaWorld announced it was ending its association with Loro Parque, effectively abandoning the orcas.

A few weeks later Loro Parque announced the news of Morgan’s pregnancy.

Evidence also continues to come to light about the poor conditions experienced by the orcas at Loro Parque. A 2016 report published by WDC

C ROBLES

KEPT FOR ENTERTAINMENT

WDC / ULLA LUDEWIG

CAPTURED INTO CAPTIVITY

C ROBL E S

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n your last issue of Whale & Dolphin, we outlined our plans for transporting female belugas Little White and Little Grey to our beluga sanctuary site in Iceland. As we get closer to the day when they will be moved to their new, more natural, long-term home, we are acutely aware that more than 3,000 other whale, dolphin and porpoise individuals are in captivity around the world and also need alternative homes.

One of these is Morgan, a young female orca born in the wild but now held in captivity and subject to conditions which threaten her health and welfare at the Loro Parque zoo in the Canary Islands. Despite her young age and the fact that she was transferred to the zoo under the guise of research that would help protect wild orcas, and despite SeaWorld’s ban on breeding, Loro Parque has taken a huge step back into the dark ages and bred this juvenile orca. Morgan is now pregnant with her first calf.

Morgan has deep scratches on her body

Morgan was taken into captivity in 2010

Orcas performing at Loro Parque

friend and orca expert, Dr Ingrid Visser revealed that Morgan was suffering from worn down and broken teeth, likely as a result of chewing on the concrete sides of the tank; from bite marks from the other orcas; and from repetitive (often referred to as ’stereotypical’) behaviour, including banging her head against the metal gates of the tiny medical pool where she is often held for long periods. She is also confined with male orcas and has been observed leaving the tank to strand herself on its surrounds, possibly to avoid their advances.

If Morgan’s calf somehow survives – despite Morgan’s young age, a lack of experienced mothers (both calves born at Loro Parque were removed from their mothers because they couldn’t care for them, and only Adan survived)

EVIDENCE ALSO CONTINUES TO COME TO LIGHT ABOUT THE POOR CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED BY THE ORCAS AT LORO PARQUE

and the cramped environment at Loro Parque – his or her future will also be uncertain, and subject to the same poor conditions that Morgan continues to suffer.

A sanctuary could be the answer. WDC, alongside the Free Morgan Foundation and other groups, has long supported a sanctuary option for Morgan, ideally in Norway, the waters of her birth. Once established, it could be a suitable site for other captive orcas, providing an ocean home for some of the many in need of sanctuary.

There are still several legal hurdles to overcome, however. Morgan’s case will return to the Dutch courts in January and we hope this will lead to the permit that sent her to Loro Parque being revoked, giving those who seek her freedom a chance to save her.

Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 11

THE BIG PLASTIC PROBLEM Our waste is clogging up the seas and threatening the lives of whales and dolphins but with your help we can begin to turn back the tide

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12 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

480

BILLION+ Single-use plastic bottles were sold in 2016 across the world ALAMY

dead animals, rocks and minerals, don’t hen Leo Baekeland, a Belgianrecognise them. As time passes, plastic will born American living in New simply break down into smaller and smaller York State, invented Bakelite fragments which stay on this planet forever. in 1907, I imagine he’d have been horrified to hear that his invention of the first fully synthetic, ACROSS THE WORLD commercially successful plastic was setting Scientists romantically call these microplastic the stage for one of the biggest environmental particles ‘mermaid tears’, but there is nothing disasters of the 21st-century. The crux of the romantic about them, and they have been matter is that since its invention, plastic has found across all the world’s seas and beaches. been sold to us as a disposable These microplastics float around item, something that makes life acting as sponges, absorbing other i easier, that can be used and then pollutants in the sea water around thrown away. Look around you – them. They ultimately enter the there is a good chance that much food chain through ingestion of what you can see is made of by marine plankton and fish. plastic: computers, paint, carpets, With their long lifespan, large upholstery, veneer on furniture, filter-feeding whales could be the finish on a wood floor, your chronically exposed to these jumper. And that’s before you go microplastics. The International PINE EISFELDinto your kitchen, or bathroom.

Whaling Commission (IWC, the PIERANTONIO Plastic is so ubiquitous that it’s body that regulates whaling) leads WDC's work almost invisible. And not all even suggests that we can on ocean plastics plastic is recyclable. Humans have gauge the amount and impact created 8,300 billion metric tonnes of microplastics in the marine of plastic in the last 60 or so years, environment by looking at and every year up to 12.7 million tonnes what is inside baleen whales and other of it end up in our oceans, either floating large filter-feeders, such as basking sharks. in garbage patches, sinking to the seabed Ingestion of and entanglement in plastic or washing up on a beach somewhere. litter are well documented in seabirds, Plastic normally doesn’t decompose or mammals and turtles. Plastic has been biodegrade as it is a combination of elements recorded inside at least 462 individual extracted from crude oil, which are then whales and dolphins at post-mortems, across remixed by women and men in white 48 species. This represents 56% of all known coats. These combinations are unknown to whale and dolphin species, showing that nature; the enzymes and micro-organisms it’s a major problem across the board and responsible for breaking down naturally not just for some species with particular occurring organic materials, such as plants, feeding methods.

CAMPAIGNS

TRAGIC TALES

IN THE SPRING OF 2017 a Cuvier’s beaked whale made headlines when he repeatedly swam into a small cove on the island of Sotra in Norway, refusing the residents’ help to push him back out to sea. The whale was emaciated, exhausted and lethargic and the decision was taken to euthanise him. During the necropsy, 30 large pieces of plastic were recovered from the whale’s stomach. One piece was a flimsy sheet more than two metres long, but most were plastic bags, some still with ghostly writing which gave away their origins in Denmark and the Ukraine. They also found the outer wrapper from a six-pack of Walkers crisps, the UK copyright and recycling symbol still visible.

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BOTTLE A single 1L bottle could break down into enough small fragments to put one on every mile of beach in the entire world

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MILLION+ Plastic bags are used every minute

IN NOVEMBER 1995 a young, emaciated female pygmy sperm whale was found stranded in New Jersey, USA. She was taken into a rehab facility where she was observed not being able to submerge successfully, which suggested to scientists that she had a digestive problem.

Over a six-week period their investigations revealed that inside her she carried a 20 by 22.5cm sheet of black plastic, a portion of a plastic garbage bag, a cellophane wrapper, a cigarette box wrapper, a bit of a balloon and some other small pieces of plastic. Thankfully these were all extracted, the whale recovered her appetite, gained weight and ultimately she was released.

IN SEPTEMBER 1997 a small harbour porpoise was found dead on the coast of Nova Scotia. His or her stomach and intestines were empty and access to the stomach was blocked by a balled-up piece of black plastic of about 5 by 7cm. Above this was a mass of fish bones and three intact fish. The porpoise had starved to death.

IN AUGUST 2000 a Bryde’s whale was found on the shore of Cairns, Australia with 30 whole plastic bags and three length of plastic sheeting covering an area of 6m in his or her stomach.

G PENRY, PLETTENBERG BAY STRANDING NETWORK

CHRISTOPH NOEVER / UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN

These bags were found in one whale's stomach

IN DECEMBER 2015 an orca washed up dead on a beach in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa and what vets found inside her painted a sad picture of how she might have spent her last days. She had very little food in her stomach but a lot of plastic, including yoghurt pots, wrappers from noodles, biscuits and other food items and the sole of a shoe. It is believed she had become ill and seperated from her pod as she could not keep up with them, so sought food in shallower waters.

IN MARCH 2013 a sperm whale stranded in the south of Spain with 59 different items in his or her stomach, including parts of a mattress, two dozen pieces of transparent plastic, some plastic bags, two stretches of hosepipe and two small flower pots, amounting to 17kg of plastic waste.

Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 13

CAMPAIGNS

WDC

WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION

WDC

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

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and instead carrying an alternative made of fabric will not only save raw materials, but also potentially stop a whale from ingesting it. Your individual pledge to cut back on plastic may seem like a drop in the ocean, but if everybody changed their behaviour, these small actions would add up and help to protect our oceans and their inhabitants.

To see how WDC supporters are already doing their bit to beat plastic, turn to page 16.

HOLD YOUR OWN URBAN BEACH CLEAN Up to 95% of the litter in the ocean actually comes from our towns and cities – blown out of bins by the wind, accidentally dropped during waste collection and transport, or deliberately littered. It makes its way into waterways and drains and then out to sea. You don’t need to live by the coast to help tackle the devastating issue of ocean plastic pollution – whether you live in a tiny hamlet or a huge city, picking up litter where you are can help to make the seas safer and

To get involved with a litter pick in your area or to find out about holding your own WDC #UrbanBeachClean visit www.notwhalefood.com or email info@whales.org 14 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

WDC

he plastic we've created and discarded can be devastating for whales, dolphins and porpoises. We can pick up plastic from beaches and design ways of hoovering it out of the ocean, but the only way to end pollution in the sea is to stop it from entering.

Manufacturers need to design products that are easier to recycle. Supermarkets must reduce plastic packaging and authorities should develop better ways of collecting and processing plastic waste.

WDC has teamed up with BRITA UK to launch #NotWhaleFood, an initiative designed to educate the pubic about the devastating impact of plastic waste in our oceans, and help people to make informed choices that make a difference.

We as consumers need to rethink our attitude to single-use plastic, and redouble our efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle. Carrying a reusable water bottle, like the BRITA Fill & Go, and/or coffee cup while out and about will reduce the amount of single-use bottles and cups ending up in landfill or the environment.

Refusing plastic bags when out shopping

healthier for whales and dolphins and other marine life.

BUY SMART Visit whales.org/shop to get yourself a refillable coffee cup and other alternatives to single-use plastic products.

TV's Julia Bradbury helps WDC tackle the plastic problem

APPEAL

DONATE TODAY:

Online: whales.org/plastics Call: 01249 449500 Or use the form on the address flap on the cover of your magazine.

WILL YOU HELP CREATE SAFE AND HEALTHY SEAS?

ALAMY

A healthy planet needs healthy whales, and healthy whales need clean seas.

But plastic waste, climate change, noise pollution and more are all having a profound impact on marine life.

A shocking 56% of all known whale and dolphin species have been recorded eating plastic they’ve mistaken for food.

The need to protect our oceans has never been so urgent.

Will you help by giving a donation today of £30 or whatever you can afford?

Every penny you donate will support our work to save the seas.

Thank you.

Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 15

BE PLASTIC FANTASTIC Meet the amazing WDC supporters who dedicate themselves to cleaning up our seas

Lis out on the waters she helps to protect from plastic pollution

D

o you want to do your bit to reduce the amount of plastic in the ocean but aren't sure where to start? Why not take inspiration from some of our fantastic plastics heroes.

Every single one of us can be part of the solution.

When you think ‘my actions aren’t going to make much difference’ just imagine all the other people thinking the same thing. When we adapt our behaviour together, big changes happen.

DO YOU KNOW A #PLASTICSHERO?

Visit www.notwhalefood.com to nominate a friend, family member, colleague or member of your community, or tag us on social media using #NotWhaleFood

LIS

Lis is single-handedly taking on her local supermarket in Skye over wasteful plastic packaging. Over the last few years she has become concerned about the increasing amount of plastic wrapping used on fresh produce, especially as her ‘local’ recycling facilities are over 200 miles away.

After raising this with the supermarket directly and not receiving a response she was happy with, Lis has decided to try to encourage the company to do more to reduce their plastic use.

She has started collecting all of the unnecessary wrappers and punnets from her weekly shop and returning them to the company via their freepost address to make them aware of the issue, and of their customers’ concerns.

If you are inspired by Lis, why not speak to your local shop or supermarket about their policy on plastic packaging?

CAROLINE

Caroline has been taking on the issue of bins overflowing in her rather windy local community on Orkney.

She contacted her local council about a seafront bin that was emptying its contents into the sea whenever the wind blew and they responded by changing it for one with rubber strips on the opening, keeping the rubbish safely inside.

16 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

Caroline and the Orkney seafront bin she campaigned to have installed

Emily O'Sullivan uses art to raise awareness of plastic pollution

HEROES

Lilly's Plastic Pickup out on patrol

Nine-year-old Joe (above) and (below) his ocean plastic collector

Spurred on by her success, Caroline alerted her local supermarket about another badly placed bin and the manager arranged for their handyman to fit some strips on their bins which kept the rubbish inside rather than blowing away – problem solved, at almost no cost.

Caroline has also found a bin that’s designed to avoid litter blowing away and she passed the info on to her local council. Hopefully they'll keep them in mind when they buy new bins.

LILLY

Nine-year-old Lilly is a huge wildlife fan and started out clearing up plastic to help the environment where she lives in the Netherlands.

A single litter pick has now turned into her own plastic reduction initiative – ‘Lilly’s Plastic Pickup’. In her role as a Youth Ambassador for Plastic Pollution Coalition she’s now reaching people of all ages and encouraging them to get involved in the fight against single-use plastic.

Wherever you live, you can follow Lilly's example and help to put a stop to plastic pollution.

Lilly is proof positive that all it takes is a can-do attitude!

EMILY

We were amazed to see the beautiful pieces of art created by Falmouth University Fine Art student Emily O’Sullivan.

Emily has been using her artistic talents to raise awareness of the dangerous effects of plastic pollution. We especially love the beautiful surfboard she has decorated.

Emily says: ‘I am surrounded by marine life and coastal habitats. Through my work I aim to raise awareness of various environmental issues by capturing the moments we wish to protect and also the devastating moments that put marine life and habitats at risk.’

WAYNE AND KODA

A true plastics hero, ex-soldier Wayne Dixon and his beautiful dog, Koda, spent much of the last 18 months on an epic journey around the UK's coastline, collecting rubbish all the way and inspiring others to do the same.

Throughout their 7,000 mile journey, Wayne and Koda have raised money for a couple of charities, given talks at primary schools, and helped to highlight the shocking amount of litter making its way on to our beaches and into our oceans.

In total the dynamic duo picked up over 6,000 bags of litter during their trek – preventing 42 tonnes of waste making it into the sea.

If Wayne’s story has encouraged you to join a litter pick or beach clean where you live, you can find out details of any running in your local area by emailing: info@whales.org

JOE

Inspired by the episode of the Blue Planet II television series that highlighted the devastating effect of ocean plastics on whales and dolphins, nine-year-old Joe decided to use his engineering skills to design his own ocean plastic collector.

Joe’s Mum, Nicola, was so proud of his passion and ingenuity that she shared it with the WDC team by nominating Joe as a #PlasticsHero via WDC’s new website, www.notwhalefood.com Joe explained that, ‘The rocker in the middle makes waves to push the plastic into the ropes where it is caught, then blown onto the mesh by the large fans. There are spinning claws to grab the plastic, and it is collected in big holders ready for the boat to collect and take away to recycle properly, before sea creatures eat it and die.’

Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 17

INSIDE INFORMATION

Charlie uses high-end camera equipment to spot dolphins

W

e know your adoption means a lot to you. In the winter 2017 issue of Whale & Dolphin, we talked to some of you about why you adopt, and your passion and desire to help protect these fascinating creatures shone through. Now we meet the people who keep you up-to-date.

We believe our adoption programmes are an important way to enable people to get close to whales and dolphins and to deepen understanding. Of course, the adoption is symbolic but the dolphins, humpbacks and orcas are real individuals and we are proud of the fact that the information we bring you is not only genuine but also rich. When Charlie, Regina or Paul and Helena are out looking for the dolphins, humpbacks or orcas, sometimes they observe drama, sometimes they simply watch them going about their day-to-day

activities and sometimes, well sometimes they simply don’t see them at all.

Each of the adoption programmes is different and unique. For Regina and the adopt a humpback programme it’s a challenge because the whales cover a vast area and migrate thousands of miles away from her study area each year; whereas the adoption dolphins live relatively close to shore and stick around all year. All of Paul and Helena’s observations are made from land and via the very latest tech, whereas Regina and her team rely on boats and humans with binoculars and cameras. Each project has its challenges and also its joys.

You’d be amazed at the time, effort and above all patience that it takes to follow the adoption dolphins, humpbacks and orcas, get to know their characters and personalities piece together their captivating stories.

WDC

Ever wondered how we bring you such comprehensive reports on your adopted dolphin, humpback or orca? Whale & Dolphin editor Julia Thoms talked to Charlie Phillips, Regina Asmutis-Silvia and Paul Spong and Helena Symonds about what’s involved

JUST THE FACTS

MORAY FIRTH BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS

GULF OF MAINE HUMPBACK WHALES

NORTHERN RESIDENT ORCAS

Approx number of individuals in the population

200

1,000

300

Size of their range

North-south about 430 miles

36,000 square miles (this is just their summer feeding area, not the migratory area)

North-south about 310 miles

Size of our study area

A rectangle of sea approx 25 by 50 miles

Approx 450 square miles

Approx 20 square miles

Do they migrate?

No

Yes, to the West Indies and Caribbean No

What time of year are they in the study area?

Year round, but peak season is March to October

April to October (approx)

Peak season is July through September when the salmon are around

Land or boat-based study?

Both land and boat-based

Boat-based

Land-based

Study methods used

Photo identification using high-end professional DSLR cameras and video footage

Remote hydrophones and cameras Photography, GPS, datasheets and huge amounts of staff and intern time monitored and controlled at OrcaLab, along with photography and video to download, code and ID data

18 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

WDC / CHARLIE PHILLIPS

HOW DOES COLLECTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADOPTION DOLPHINS, HUMPBACKS AND ORCAS COMPARE?

ADOPTION

CHARLIE PHILLIPS

A VERYARD

ON ADOPT A DOLPHIN

No dolphins in sight but the views over Chanonry Point are superb

Get your monthly adoption update by email. Each month we’ll send you the latest video and news on your adopted dolphin, whale or orca. To subscribe, just email info@whales.org and include your supporter number.

WDC / CHARLIE PHILLIPS

DON’T MISS OUT

A large group of dolphin watchers at Chanonry Point

Following and recording the lives of the six individual bottlenose dolphins in our adopt a dolphin programme, whether from land or from a boat, is a labour of love really. It is an all-yearround task and I have to be flexible about how and when I work, as bottlenose dolphins definitely don’t respect the nine to five working day.

A lot of my daily routine revolves around getting physical sightings of dolphins, so I have to check out my prime spots like the Kessock Channel and the Chanonry Narrows very carefully to see which dolphins are around. I tend to have the best chance of encountering them when there is a rising or flooding tide, as this is the optimum, but also highly variable, time of day to photograph, film or simply observe dolphins either close to shore or at a distance.

IF I DON’T FIND ALL OR ANY OF THE ADOPTION DOLPHINS IN ONE AREA THEN I’LL MOVE ON AND TRY TO TRACK THEM DOWN If I don’t find all or any of the adoption dolphins in one area then I’ll move on and try to track them down. This can be very tricky as they cover a wide expanse of sea. I will sometimes fall-back on reports coming to me from wildlife tour boat operators in the area. Most of them have got pretty good at recognising the adoption dolphins and letting me know as soon as they can if there has been a sighting. These relationships are so valuable, as I am often invited on-board the dolphin watching boats, which means that not only do I get a good chance of photographing dolphins out at sea but there is also the opportunity to get new pictures or footage of some of the more elusive adoption individuals.

My biggest challenge is the weather. As the dolphins live in part of the North Sea, it can sometimes be tricky. When I am working from land, I can pack my cameras away if the weather turns nasty, but when I’m out on a boat, many miles from shelter, just keeping upright can be a problem.

I consider it a privilege to live and work near these amazing wild, free dolphins. To be able to sneak a peek into their complicated and often enigmatic lives every day is special. My sightings are often shared with others, like Aberdeen University, that also seek to protect these wonderful dolphins that you so generously adopt.

Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 19

ADOPTION

WDC / VICKI JAMES

WE SEE AROUND 300 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL HUMPBACK WHALES EACH YEAR AND IF WE ARE LUCKY, THOSE SIGHTINGS INCLUDE YOUR ADOPTED WHALES

REGINA ASMUTIS-SILVIA

20 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

WDC / VICKI JAMES

athering the information for your humpback updates is a year-round effort, involving a lot of people and hundreds of trips out at sea. The process starts around January when we put out a call to recruit interns, the first of whom will start going out on whale watch boats in April to record all the whales they see. They will photograph them and note where they are, and what they are doing – are they feeding, and if so, what methods are they using to catch their prey? Are they breaching or resting, socialising or alone?

Over the next six months, our interns will collect data from more than 500 whale watches off Cape Cod and take over 40,000 photographs.

Of course, the species and numbers of individuals we encounter all depend on whether there is prey available in the whale watch boats’ search area. If the weather, prey and whales all cooperate, some of those photos will include in-focus and identifiable photos of the underside of a humpback’s tail – these markings enable us to identify each individual. Our interns load all the images into our database and compare each one with a catalogue of more than 2,000 known

Interns are vital to gathering data about the Gulf of Maine humpback population

WDC

G

ON ADOPT A HUMPBACK

humpback whales to see if there is a match. On average, we see around 300 different individual humpback whales each year and if we are lucky, those sightings include your adopted whales.

Keeping in mind that the chances of seeing a particular individual humpback whale in the Gulf of Maine is about one in 1,000, we are always very excited to see such adoption stars as Midnight, Salt, Pepper or Reflection.

Our search area is typically limited to the southern Gulf of Maine off Cape Cod, but the whales consider home to be the entire Gulf of Maine, off the coast of New England.

Thankfully, our friends at the Center for Coastal Studies, who conduct a Gulf of Maine research cruise every year, generously share their sightings of the adoption whales if they encounter them.

Gulf of Maine humpbacks are one of the best-studied whale populations in the world and have helped us better understand humpbacks generally. They have increased our knowledge of everything from whale migration to the threats they face. The data we collect contributes to vital research that helps us determine what protection measures they need, as researchers use our information to understand the impacts of entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes. We are always happy to share our sightings with you but, more importantly, we are profoundly grateful for your support as you help not only your adopted whale, but our work towards a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free.

OrcaLab volunteers look out for orcas

WDC / JULIA THOMS

WDC / JULIA THOMS

ADOPTION

ON ADOPT AN ORCA

OrcaLab’s research is based on the premise that it is possible to study the wild without interfering with lives or habitat. We’ve been observing passing whales from the Lab’s deck since the 1980s and we’ve a network of remote hydrophones (underwater microphones) that monitor about 50 square km of the underwater area around Hanson Island, where OrcaLab is based. This area is recognised as ‘core habitat’ for the Northern Resident orca community, meaning that over time all or almost all members of the community will visit our area. With our seasonal volunteers, we monitor the hydrophone network via VHF receivers in our Lab and make recordings every time we hear orcas.

We’re able to determine when orcas are around, and because they use dialects unique to family groups, we know who is there and are able to follow them around acoustically, regardless of time of day, weather or season.

WDC / JULIA THOMS

WDC / JULIA THOMS

Cracroft Point is OrcaLab's remote outpost and land-based video station

MEGAN HOCKIN BENNETT

OrcaLab uses the latest technology to follow orcas' lives

WDC / JULIA THOMS

PAUL SPONG AND HELENA SYMONDS

BECAUSE THEY USE DIALECTS UNIQUE TO FAMILY GROUPS, WE KNOW WHO IS THERE Since 2000, we’ve added a video dimension by developing a network of remote cameras to observe visiting orcas visually as well as acoustically.

These cameras allow us to determine intimate details such as gender and even pregnancy, and observe activities at the remote rubbing beaches where the orcas swim close to the shore in order to rub their bellies along the smooth pebbles – a behaviour unique to the orcas here in British Columbia's Johnstone Strait. Additionally, our outpost at Cracroft Point has proven a perfect location for filming orcas, as Megan Hockin-Bennett’s fabulous videos demonstrate in your monthly email updates.

Our biggest challenges over the years have been technical. When we began building our hydrophone network in the mid-1980s, we charged and hauled heavy batteries to remote sites constantly. Solar power largely solved that problem. When we streamed live video in 2000, we relied on a huge satellite dish that connected OrcaLab to Tokyo via a relay in Calgary. Fast forward to today, when thanks to technical expertise provided by explore.org we are now streaming full screen HD video to an unlimited audience.

The best thing about our work is being able to follow the lives of individual orcas not just from year to year but from generation to generation, so that we get to know these remarkable individuals and share their stories with you.

You can follow our live video stream from various locations at explore.org/orcas and listen to our hydrophones at orca-live.net/community Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 21

BIRTHDAY WISHES We asked Chris Butler-Stroud, WDC’s CEO, ‘what does WDC turning 30 mean to you?’

W

WDC / ROB LOTT

DC is 30 years old and I am incredibly proud of WDC and the team of staff, volunteers and supporters who have helped achieve our many successes during those three decades. But the very fact that WDC is needed more today than we have ever been should cause us to reflect a little.

Today, whaling, while much reduced, is still a threat; bycatch is killing hundreds of thousands of whales and dolphins a year; we are polluting our marine environment with chemicals and plastics like never before, and we are seeing new captive display facilities spring up in new parts of the world, imprisoning whales and dolphins to suffer in tiny tanks.

However, there is good reason to celebrate our 30 years. With the backing and encouragement of our incredible supporters, we are proud of what we have achieved so far.

REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Together we have never wavered in our fight to end whale hunting. WDC has played a leading role at the International Whaling Commission 22 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

WE HAVE NEVER WAVERED IN OUR FIGHT TO END WHALE HUNTING

(IWC – the body that regulates commercial hunts) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), providing much needed

scientific, legal and policy advice and intervention. WDC has rallied countries to oppose abuses of so-called ‘scientific whaling’ and to counter all attempts to compromise on the issue of commercial whaling and trade in whale products. I truly believe that if WDC had not been engaged with these major political institutions, the ban on commercial whaling would have been lifted in recent years.

At WDC, we’ve never been scared to fight to improve things and I remain particularly proud of WDC’s work to end the use of the electric lance by Japan, as this was an incredibly cruel method for killing whales.

WDC has been a pioneer in many areas. We were one of the first organisations to highlight the threat of noise pollution to whales and dolphins, and to reveal the dangers posed by PCBs and other man-made organic chemicals.

We were also one of the first to challenge the view that the display of captive whales and dolphins was educational and ethical.

Our position was never just a gut reaction to the cruelty we encountered; it came from matching our passion and empathy with thorough scientific study, from which we

ASK THE EXPERTS

FERN

WDC

A N DO T R U J I L LO

Above: WDC participating in the 2016 International Whaling Commission meeting Above right: People are now paying attention to the plight of river dolphins Below: Ending whale and dolphin captivity has always been one of our priorities

more whales are alive today because of it. The could make progressive recommendations reality is that there are always emergent threats about what should be done to change the to whales and dolphins and the tasks before us world for these captive individuals. are never done. As WDC has grown in stature, WDC was proud to be one of the first the more people expect of what remains a lean organisations to champion the plight of the and small team of committed individuals. forgotten river dolphin, and we are now WDC is always ready to adapt to the pleased to see many other NGOs and changing environment and over governments working to address the last few years we have been their specific needs. i championing new ways of thinking We have been at the forefront of on how to protect the marine new conservation thinking on how environment and its inhabitants. marine protected areas can be used We encourage people to value to protect whales and dolphins, and whales and dolphins both for the our early work with the Convention role they play in helping us to on Migratory Species (CMS) set combat climate change and standards for how international maintain a healthy ocean agreements could proactively CHRIS BUTLERenvironment, and also for the protect whales and dolphins STROUD socially-complex and culturally-rich and the marine environment. is WDC’s chief lives they live, which require us to executive officer think in new ways to ensure that BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS conservation efforts can succeed.

I am also proud of the partnerships Some things may well get worse before they we have developed along the way, not just get better. During the last decades we’ve seen with our supporters and with other charities the effective extinction of the baiji. Now, and NGOs, but also with governments and vaquita and Māui dolphins are struggling to corporate partners who share our ambition for survive the threat of accidental capture in a world where every whale and dolphin is safe fishing nets. While the world may finally be and free. The support we’ve received from waking up to the problem of plastics in our people like you has made a real difference and

WE WERE ALSO ONE OF THE FIRST TO CHALLENGE THE VIEW THAT THE DISPLAY OF CAPTIVE WHALES AND DOLPHINS WAS EDUCATIONAL AND ETHICAL

oceans, we are seeing a rise in the number of facilities for captive whale and dolphin ‘entertainment’ shows, especially in Asia.

Whales and dolphins are now recognised as one of the keystone species on this small, shared blue planet of ours. Increasingly people are realising that their survival is intimately entwined with our own.

The next 30 years will certainly not be easy, but I can see a brighter future. Together with your support, WDC can rise to the challenge – sometimes shouting from the rooftops and sometimes quietly working behind the scenes. n Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 23

GALLERY

24 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

DEATH TRAP WDC Ambassador and photographer, Andrew Sutton witnessed a dolphin caught in a desperate state

I

t was while photographing blue whales in Sri Lanka that Andrew Sutton was approached by a lone Risso’s dolphin – an unusual encounter considering that these are very social creatures.

He noticed that the dolphin had fishing net, fishing line, a shopping bag and more items of marine litter caught around his or her tail fluke, slowly and painfully severing it.

Describing the heartbreaking predicament, Andrew says: ‘This was a hopeless situation to deal with. As a rule I carry a razorsharp diving knife for freeing myself from drifting fishing gear, but as you can see from this picture, this poor individual was entangled

by steel wire fishing line along with the regular plastic line, and there’s no way my knife would have cut through that.

‘The dolphin never slowed enough for me to attempt to tackle the problem, only allowing me these glimpses of torment, and I imagine his or her eventual demise.

‘I believe I managed to do some good by releasing the images and highlighting the problem of our continued contamination of the oceans.’

The truth is, we are all responsible for solving this issue – consumers, businesses, governments and organisations like WDC must work together. We must be the change.

Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 25

ADOPTION UPDATES

DOLPHINS ORCAS

The latest news about the bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales and orcas you so generously adopt. Thanks to your support we can help give them all a safer future

HUMPBACKS

We've got a baby name announcement for you on page 7!

Rainbow Rainbow and her young son Indigo, have not been easy to find of late and they haven’t shown up on any of my local photos. I did, however, recently get word from a buddy of mine who was away out at sea near Lossiemouth that dolphins were hunting around their boat. Thankfully, one of the crew managed to get some

photos and I can make out Rainbow, plus a few others such as her friend Bonnie, and possibly old Jigsaw too. Winter and early spring is always a challenging time trying to find Rainbow but soon she will be back around Chanonry and Cromarty, hunting for the first of the salmon.

Moonlight

Mischief I last came across this great character while out at sea on board the Ecoventures dolphin watch boat. Mischief, Moonlight and around a dozen others were rocketing around gobbling up herring that were shoaling in the Cromarty Firth. Mischief and his big pal Denoozydenzy were the only two big male dolphins in the area and they were hanging out together for a while, between bouts of herring hunting. The deep tooth rake scratches on Mischief's dorsal fin were looking really bright in the dull light conditions and I noticed that he’s picked up a new nick just above the big cut at the base of his fin – I wonder who he’s been arguing with?

26 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

ALL IMAGES: WDC / CHARLIE PHILLIPS, EXCEPT SPIRIT IMAGE BY ADELE WRIGHT

The last time I saw Moonlight was very memorable. I was out on the water in the Cromarty Firth when I encountered her with her young son, Shadow plus some friends. The fair-sized group of dolphins were chasing shoals of herring. They were moving very slowly at first through the grey, rough water then suddenly they were accelerating at top speed, herding the fish into a big ball and then snapping them up as fast as they could. This type of cooperative hunting is awesome to watch and demonstrates the fantastic intelligence of these dolphins – young Shadow certainly has a wonderful teacher in his mum, Moonlight.

DOLPHIN DIARIES ADELE WRIGHT

Spirit I just missed seeing Spirit and her baby on my very last boat trip of the 2017 season out of Cromarty, which was a bit frustrating. In the meantime she has been seen and photographed out at sea by Mischief adopter Adele Wright, along the coast at Burghead. This is great news and I’m not that surprised at the sighting, as Spirit and baby plus some friends have been dividing their hunting time between the Cromarty Firth and the Burghead/Hopeman area this past six months or so.

Kesslet Kesslet has been moving up and down the coast quite a lot and turns up sporadically in the Kessock Channel, often with her big son Charlie and their friend Scoopy, looking to see what fishy snacks are available. Winter herring are getting more abundant as I write and Kesslet is charging around snapping up lots of these delicious, oily fish to keep her own insulating jacket of blubber topped up. The seawater is cold out there so dolphins like Kesslet have to have a regular food supply and in the winter, the fattier it is the better.

Brought to you by WDC's adopt a dolphin field officer, Charlie Phillips In between periods of poor winter and early spring weather up here in the Moray Firth, we do sometimes have nice, calm watching conditions in which to get out and about. For me that means looking out to sea for any signs of dolphins moving around and so far it’s been pretty good with dolphins, a few porpoises and even a minke whale popping up as well as the resident seals and some lovely otters. Observing wild creatures at long distances can be a challenge but once you get the hang of it, it’s great fun.

The cold, crisp winter air is actually a favourite time for me at the coast around the Inner Moray Firth as the clarity of the air with less heat-haze above the sea’s surface means less atmospheric distortion or wobbliness and you can actually see much further and more accurately...that fuzzy ‘blob’ moving about on the water suddenly becomes a much clearer dorsal fin which is exciting as then you have the task of trying to identify who it is or what species. Is he a bottlenose? Is she a local dolphin that I recognise? Is the dolphin on the adoption programme? Can I get a photograph to share with you lovely supporters? This is what I always hope and strive for. The down side of course standing about in the winter weather is the eventual nippy fingers and very cold feet but if so much as the tip of a dorsal fin appears above the water's surface then I seem to magically forget about the cold – it’s amazing how that happens.

For your monthly email dolphin update send your supporter number to info@whales.org

Sundance Sundance was spotted by the Ecoventures dolphin watch team at Cromarty, right at the very end of their tour season. He was looking fantastic, but sadly I haven’t managed to get him in my camera’s viewfinder for quite a while. He was apparently with a large group of females and their youngsters, and no doubt he was there keeping an eye on them while making sure that none of the younger males were getting too out of order. A very important part of being a big, dominant male dolphin like Sundance is occasionally having to ‘have a word’ with the young upstarts. You don’t argue with Sundance.

Read Charlie’s blog at whales.org/adoptadolphinblog @WHALES_org @whaleanddolphinorg facebook.com/whales.org Summer017 WHALE&DOLPHIN 27

ADOPTION UPDATES

HUMPBACK HEADLINES Brought to you by executive director of WDC North America, Regina Asmutis-Silvia The winter is cold here in New England, so the adoption humpbacks have made their mammoth 1,500 mile journey to the warmer waters of the Caribbean to conceive and nurse their young. During the winter, my team has stayed as busy as ever with processing whale watch data and photos, interviewing and selecting interns and preparing for the new season.

As we have finally finished processing all of our sightings for 2017, I wanted to update you on our final numbers. Last year, our interns were on board over 400 whale watches, amounting to more than 1,600 hours spent on the water between April and October.

In all of these whale watches, humpbacks were seen over 2,000 times. We were fortunate enough to see many different whale behaviours such as kickfeeding (when a whale slaps the surface of the water with his or her tail to startle the fish), bubble net feeding (when humpbacks use bubbles to force fish to the surface), flipper slapping, nursing, logging (sleeping) and even full body breaching.

In 2017 alone, we were able identify over 250 individual humpback whales, including 25 calves, and added more than 28,000 photos to our database.

Even though it’s a lot of work, the data we collect is invaluable. Our whale sighting information has already been used to support long-term studies for the North Atlantic, Gulf of Maine and Mid-Atlantic US humpback whale catalogues; monitor entangled whales and those struck by vessels; inform our research project on humpback whale culture; and provide evidence to US government officials who monitor human impacts on whales along the US east coast. Thank you for helping us protect these whales, who are not only remarkable individuals but, by providing nutrients to the plankton in the ocean, also give us every other breath we take.

PEPPER We didn’t get to meet Pepper in person this year as she decided to feed in other parts of the Gulf of Maine, the waters off the coast of New England. Even though we love to see all of the adoption whales, we don’t worry too much about Pepper when she stays away for a season. In previous summers we haven’t seen Pepper, only to have her return the next year in perfect health. While our interns didn’t see Pepper, they did meet some of her family. We had multiple sightings of two of her calves, Habanero and Striation. Pepper’s first child was a daughter born in 1982 and was named Aurora. Her other children are named Siete, Tadpole, Paprika, Zenith and Bishop.

Pepper's most recent calf was born in 2015, so we are crossing our fingers that not only will we see her back this year, but also that she will have a new calf with her.

For your monthly email humpback update send your supporter number to info@whales.org

@WHALES_org @whaleanddolphinorg 28 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

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Reflection Reflection made quite a splash during the whale watching season. On some of the occasions we saw her and her baby, they were incredibly active – breaching at the surface and very exciting to watch – while at other times they were simply resting. We were even fortunate enough to see Reflection’s youngest child learning how to feed on small fish. The small, pencil-thin, fat-rich schooling fish such as sand eels that are here in abundance over the summer months are a relatively easy target for newly weaned young whales such as Reflection’s youngster.

ON SOME OF THE OCCASIONS WE SAW HER AND HER BABY, THEY WERE INCREDIBLY ACTIVE – BREACHING AT THE SURFACE AND VERY EXCITING TO WATCH Salt Salt always makes a big impression and she did not disappoint us in 2017, when she was spotted more than 20 times between July and September. She was mostly seen alone, but sometimes in small groups with other adult females and we were really excited to see her hanging out with her now adult daughter, Thalassa. Since humpbacks don’t live in tightknit family groups like orcas, it is a very special occasion to see mother and daughter reunite.

Interestingly, during many of our sightings of Salt she was seen ‘logging’. This is something we can all relate to, as logging is just the whale version of sleeping. Salt was seen floating and resting horizontally and appeared like a ‘log’ at the surface of the water. We are speculating that perhaps she was resting more than usual because she is expecting a baby. We can’t wait to see her later this spring to find out if she has given birth to a new little one.

Midnight Midnight’s name was inspired by her beautiful, mostly black tail, and she has been a successful mother – returning last summer with her 11th known baby, born 29 years after her first child, Sombrero. Mothers like Midnight need to feed their babies more than 400 pints (50 gallons) of rich milk every day until they are weaned at eight to ten months old.

Midnight guided her little one to these feeding grounds in New England during their spring migration, side by side all the way from the Caribbean. After a couple of years of growing up, the baby will make the same 1,500 mile trip alone, having learnt the route from Midnight.

Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 29

Fife WDC / JULIA THOMS

ORCA ODYSSEYS

Fife has been a very interesting, and at times, amusing orca to watch. His group arrived 28 July, somewhat later than expected as in recent years they have been the first group to get the season underway. Regardless, Fife and his family soon made their presence known and were completely involved in the orca social scene. Fife gave much of his time and focus to the female members of other visiting groups, especially those of the I35s. Several observers were amused by the interest shown in the new arrivals by many of the younger orcas, especially the juvenile males. It made for an awful lot of splashing about, along with bold displays of Fife’s adult maleness.

Interestingly, as the season continued, Fife began to settle down, especially after he and his group were left alone in September. He then took up the habit of travelling ahead when they moved from one area to the next. It seemed now as if Fife’s primary focus had switched to finding something worthwhile to eat. Fife’s family left from mid-September to mid-October and arrived back on 14 October, before finally departing for good on 22 October. They had spent 47 days in the area. We are hoping that, similar to last year, Fife and his family will return once again for a winter visit.

2017 was a very encouraging year for the orca families we follow. The summer season started slowly (a familiar pattern in recent years), but once it got going we were treated daily to the presence of numerous orca families. They spent their time socialising, hunting the salmon that make up their preferred diet and visiting the rubbing beaches that have long attracted them to the waters of the Ecological Reserve at Robson Bight. In recent years they have taken to leaving before the end of September, so when this time they stayed beyond that, we felt that things had returned more or less to normal.

At OrcaLab we were kept busy 24 hours a day, monitoring our hydrophone and camera networks and streaming live audio and video to an international audience. During daylight hours we followed the orcas from camera to camera with two control systems that provided us with enriched data. We had a great group of volunteers who came from six countries and assisted us by taking photographs from the Lab deck, identifying orcas and humpback whales, making audio recordings, operating the remote cameras and reporting to the world via social media. To our delight, Megan HockinBennett and Shari Manning returned to our outpost at Cracroft Point and continued to contribute their invaluable video and photos.

On the technical side of our operations, we upgraded the microwave radio infrastructure that runs our wireless network and also upgraded power systems.

The upshot was a more stable wireless network and more reliable streaming, improving the quality of our live video webcasts and incidentally making winter less of a challenge. We’re already looking forward to next season!

For your monthly email orca update send your supporter number to info@whales.org facebook.com/whales.org @WHALES_org @whaleanddolphinorg 30 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

HELENA SYMONDS & ORCALAB

Brought to you by OrcaLab founders, Helena Symonds & Paul Spong

Bend Bend’s family were the first Northern Residents to really establish themselves for the summer season, settling in for good on 20 July. Afterwards, Bend and her family were a near daily presence until their departure on 3 September. We later heard that they had arrived safely back on the north coast. This is probably where they will remain for the winter. Unlike Simoom and Holly, Bend and her family have never returned to the Johnstone Strait area during the winter months.

During the summer, Bend and her family were definitely the main social conveners, ushering in new visiting groups and accompanying those departing the area.

Bend’s family was often diverted by the chance to forage, spending hours in front of the Lab or just off Cracroft Point. Bend’s mother Clio had an energetic new little one with her who breached repeatedly.

Hopefully this positive summer season will encourage Bend and her family to come back for more next summer.

UNLIKE SIMOOM AND HOLLY, BEND AND HER FAMILY HAVE NEVER RETURNED TO THE JOHNSTONE STRAIT AREA DURING THE WINTER MONTHS

ADOPTION UPDATES

Simoom J A R ED TOW E R S

Simoom was 2017’s most surprising orca and we wondered if we would ever see her. Her presence in the area has diminished over the years so our expectations were understandably low.

Finally, on 4 August, recordings and pictures showed that at least her daughter Misty had been around.

But it would be more than a month later, on 13 September, that Simoom brought her entire family into the area. What a relief! It proved difficult at first to confirm that Simoom herself was present, although eventually she was positively observed. Of course, this was tempered by the realisation that Kaikash, Simoom’s cousin, was most likely gone. Simoom had arrived back in time to join Fife’s family, and later to help usher in the visiting groups from G clan.

As an A1 pod member, Simoom assumed the same role of social convener as Bend’s family. Listening and watching Simoom go about her business as usual felt very comforting.

She managed to spend 24 days in the area and importantly it was her family that closed out the season, perhaps a signal that things may be returning to normal.

That would be another welcome relief.

JARED TOWERS

Holly

CETACEALAB

This has been a difficult season to report on Holly. For the first time that we can remember, she has given the Johnstone Strait area a miss so far this year. We have had to rely entirely on secondhand reports for news about her whereabouts. In a normal year she would have arrived sometime in July and stayed at least until September.

Then after a few months she would have returned for part of the winter.

But the good news is, as of 27 October, we know she and her family were well and thriving off the north coast of British Columbia. We can only speculate that this choice of locale suited her purposes and that she felt no particular need to return to the Johnstone Strait area this summer. Perhaps the demands and effort of having a new baby this year influenced her decision. Or perhaps the less populated north coast offered relief from the constant attention of boats.

We will never know for sure, but we are hoping our area will draw her back sometime during the coming winter, when it is less busy and she can take advantage of the late runs of winter Chinook salmon.

Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 31

EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME

WDC / ROB LOTT

WDC’s international gaming event is back!

14 APRIL, 2018 Wherever you are in the world, join us for Gamers for Orcas and help raise funds to keep whales and dolphins safe and free.

If you’re feeling adventurous, want to get fit, or just fancy doing something completely different, take on a challenge and make WDC’s 30th Anniversary a year to remember – for us and for you!

Whether it’s mountains to climb, jungles to trek or rivers to swim, there’s a WDC challenge out there to suit every taste and age.

Get more info or sign up at whales.org/gamersfororcas

Visit whales.org/support-us, contact us on events@whales.org or call 01249 449550 for a chat

Nature guides £2.99 each

Bird mugs £7.70 each Highland cow £20

Heart £11.50

SPRING IS HERE

The days are getting warmer and longer, making it the perfect time to go for a stroll in the spring sunshine. Take our pocket-sized nature guides with you on your excursions and check out the wildlife in your area.

Don’t forget there is a special day for mums on 11 March, 2018 too.

Visit whales.org/shop

32 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

Jellycat gifts from £5.75

FACE TO FACE

Humpback whales and spinner dolphins are two species that can be seen around St Vincent

WATCH AND LEARN

the fishing close to 41 years and the whale watching tours for at least 15 years.

‘I’ve got a small boat, a little dingy I use to fish for tunas and so forth, and also whale watching trips. However, it’s not the best size for whale watching as I can only take three or four people.’

WDC

Tour operator Kirk Grant is setting a course for greater whale and dolphin conservation in St Vincent and the Grenadines

A

s our appreciation of whales and dolphins has grown, so too has the popularity of whale and dolphin watching, with an estimated 13 million people a year taking a trip.

In the last two issues of Whale & Dolphin we looked at how St Vincent and the Grenadines is turning the tide on its whaling past and can reap the rewards of whale watching. To this end WDC has been supporting educational projects in the country to grow a better understanding of whales and the economic, social and environmental benefits they can bring.

The success of these ecotourism endeavours of course relies on individuals who have the dedication and expertise to create unforgettable encounters with whales and dolphins, and crucially in a responsible way.

I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST GUYS IN MY AREA AROUND BARROUALLIE TO DO THESE KINDS OF TRIPS AND THEY’VE GOT MORE POPULAR NOW

Now we meet Kirk Grant, a Vincentian who is already putting this into action.

‘I’m a tour guide in St Vincent and the Grenadines and when there are no tourists I’m a fisherman,’ says Kirk. ‘I’ve been doing

ISLAND LIFE

Kirk drums up business for his excursions among the visiting sailing yachts and boats moored in picturesque Wallilabou Bay, which was notably used as a filming location in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

He says: ‘I was one of the first guys in my area around Barrouallie to do these kinds of trips and they’ve got more popular now. I get requests from people who know you can have this experience when you go to St Vincent and I mainly work with European visitors, such as Italians, Germans and French.

‘I do voluntary work as well with primary and secondary schools, so the next generation can see that whale watching is a good investment for each and everyone.’

For those lucky enough to be a passenger onboard Kirk’s boat they have the chance to see the many different whale and dolphin species that frequent the waters surrounding St Vincent. Possible sightings include spinner dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, Spring 2018 WHALE&DOLPHIN 33

FACE TO FACE

34 WHALE&DOLPHIN Spring 2018

THEY NOW REALISE, LIKE I DO, THAT THERE IS GREATER VALUE IN WHALE WATCHING THAN KILLING A WHALE

WDC

bottlenose dolphins, orcas, and short-finned pilot whales, while seasonal highlights are the arrival of sperm whales and humpback whales.

Controversially, the latter are still hunted by a small few in Bequia – the second largest island in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The islanders are permitted to kill up to four humpbacks per year by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the body that regulates whaling.

Meanwhile, in Kirk’s hometown of Barrouallie, on St Vincent Island, hunts also take place targeting orcas, pilot whales and dolphins. The hunting of these species is not regulated by the IWC. Nevertheless, in spite of this, Kirk is keen to point out that attitudes are changing in the face of greater understanding of whales and dolphins and the negative impact whaling can have on the immediate environment of St Vincent.

‘In Barrouallie, people many years ago were more interested in catching the whales as they used to think of it as a livelihood.

‘They now realise, like I do, that there is greater value in whale watching than killing a whale. I have had some great experiences with whales. When you go out to see them, when they come to the boat and look at you, you become attached to them.

‘Presently people in Barrouallie are also getting very upset because remains from the hunts are not properly disposed of. They will take the meat and skin but leave the intestines and bones close to the seashore.

When the tide comes in, this is then pushed back on the beach and has a negative environmental impact.

‘At cost to myself I have to take my boat to get it out, just because I want Barrouallie to be clean, especially for when the tourists come.’

An end to some of the hunts could be in

Kirk was part of group of Vincentians who visited the WDC North America office sight since Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves issued a statement last year committing his government to passing laws prohibiting the killing of orcas and some other dolphin species. But sadly his statement did not extend to pilot whales, and the IWC quota for humpback whales is still in place.

INSPIRING IDEAS

Kirk’s desire to promote whale watching in St Vincent was further encouraged by a trip he made last April to WDC’s North American office on the north east coast of the US, organised by WDC with funding from the European Outdoor Conservation Association.

Along with two fellow Vincentians they learned about whales, past and present, off the coast of New England, a region with a long history of whaling on a huge scale. The intention was to show how the incredible success story of the transition from whaling to whale watching in the US could be replicated in the Caribbean.

Kirk says: ‘It was an amazing experience for me whale watching in Boston, to see the ways the humpbacks perform in the ocean, how they come to the surface and feed so close together. It was also great to see the amount of people who willingly come from different parts of the States and all over the world to see the whales and have a relationship with them.

‘We were told how to safely approach whales with a boat, how many metres away we should be, and what side of the whale we should be on. Although I have previous of experience of this while whale watching, I learnt a lot.

‘In a workshop we heard how much money we could make by doing whale watching. I would like St Vincent and the Grenadines to pay more attention to whale watching. It would be very good for the people.’

Kirk is convinced the ecotourism industry will continue to grow, and optimistic that Vincentians young and old alike can appreciate the economic and conservation benefits whale watching can bring to them.

‘In Barrouallie we are just waiting for when the government will pass the laws to ban whaling. Just a small quantity of people, maybe five or six at the most complain that whaling is a tradition and that you cannot stop it. We’ve got to realise that we are destroying Mother Nature.

‘I’d like to get a bigger boat and give everyone in schools and colleges a trip out to learn about marine life, whales, and how they are important to humans. This is one of my dreams I would like to fulfill, to give back to the community, to give St Vincent something from me.’ n

WDC IS

HELP US CELEBRATE We’ve got 30 fun ideas to help you raise £30 for our 30th birthday.

If you and every Whale & Dolphin reader raises £30, we’ll have half a million pounds to help us protect whales and dolphins.

IDEA #1

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Change Challenge

Bake for Belugas

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Collect your coins in our change box and you could win an amazing goody bag of prizes!

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Make 30 whale-shaped cookies and sell to friends, family and colleagues.

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For all 30 fundraising ideas and details on how to get involved Visit whales.org/support-us Email events@whales.org Call 01249 449500 *Terms and conditions apply