The Whale Sanctuary Blog

News updates … Opinion … Commentary … Press releases … Background info … Archives.

French Minister Opposes Transfer of Orcas Wikie & Keijo to Aquarium in Japan

The decision of the French minister to oppose transfer of Wikie and Keijo to Japan leaves two options: retirement to ...

South Korean Aquarium Signals Intent to Send Beluga Whale to Sanctuary

A Letter of Intent with LotteWorld Aquarium “to enter a dialogue concerning the relocation of the beluga whale known as ...

How to Welcome a Whale to Sanctuary

What will it be like for a whale arriving at the sanctuary after a lifetime spent in a small concrete ...

For Wikie and Keijo, a Fork in the Road Ahead

As Marineland Antibes prepares to close its orca exhibit, two possible futures await the mother and son orcas.

The Honourable Murray Sinclair: 1951-2024

We are saddened to hear of the passing of the Honourable Murray Sinclair, the Anishinaabe senator, judge and leader in ...

Whales, Waves & Buoys

How the new Wine Harbour buoy will help ensure a safe environment for whales at the sanctuary.

Jane Goodall, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Sylvia Earle Endorse Sanctuary for French Orcas

A letter to the Minister for Ecological Transition, Energy, the Climate and Risk Prevention re. the future of the mother-and-son ...

French Government Prioritizes “Well-being” of Captive Orcas Wikie & Keijo

In its report, the French government emphasizes the well-being of the whales as the primary consideration in its recommendations as ...

For Wikie & Keijo, Whale Sanctuary Project Is “Most Credible Innovative Solution”

French government inspectorate says Whale Sanctuary Project is best sanctuary solution for captive orcas at Marineland Antibes.

Hvaldimir – Beloved Whale Is Found Dead

Hvaldimir, the beloved beluga whale who escaped from captivity in Russia and made a new life for himself, was found ...

What It Takes and How You Can Help

We are now seeking funds for both the capital expenditures for construction of the sanctuary and the operations to get ...

A Global Movement Is Born

This year, we have been in contact with several groups and organizations that are seeking to create cetacean sanctuaries. And, ...

The Urgent Need of Beluga Whales around the World

Beluga whales in Canada, South Korea, Taiwan and beyond need sanctuaries as urgently as orcas. We have already held discussions ...

Site Geography & Environment Analyses

Since selecting Port Hilford Bay as the location for the sanctuary in 2020, we have conducted extensive qualitative and quantitative ...

The Accelerated Plan and Bay Pen

Second in a series of posts about the urgent need of two orcas at Marineland Antibes in France –  Wikie ...

Hope for a Family in Distress

This is the first in a series of posts about progress in our work at the sanctuary site in the ...

World Ocean Day in Sherbrooke NS

How our enthusiastic group of local volunteers mounted a delightful World Ocean Day celebration at the Whale Sanctuary Operations & ...

Dr. Jane Goodall Presses for Orcas in France to Be Retired to Sanctuary in Nova Scotia

In a letter to the French Government, Dr. Jane Goodall has strongly endorsed the Whale Sanctuary Project's proposal for the ...

The Passing of Inouk

Once again, we note the premature passing of an orca at a marine entertainment park: today it is Inouk at ...

Bringing Wikie, Keijo & Inouk to Sanctuary

In response to the urgent need of three orcas held in Marineland Antibes, a French marine entertainment park, the Whale ...

Remembering Steven M. Wise

Steven M. Wise, the founder of the Nonhuman Rights Project, was a groundbreaking legal scholar whose historic cases on behalf ...

Bill Reintroduced to U.S. Congress to Bring an End to Public Display of Captive Whales

The Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings (SWIMS) Act would end the future capture and breeding of whales for public display.

One Voice and the Whale Sanctuary Project Propose Collaboration with Marineland Antibes to Retire Three Orcas to Sanctuary

A fully cooperative effort among staff and management of all parties is key to a successful outcome for Inouk, Wikie ...

The Passing of Two Orca Calves Prompts a Moment for Reflection

The death of two newborn orcas reminds us of the difference between a natural free-ranging life and one spent in ...

The Whale Who Defected

Hvaldimir, the beluga whale who defected from the Russian navy. An insightful article from The New York Times tells his ...

A Tale of Two Baby Orcas

“It’s a boy!” newspapers on the West Coast exclaimed when photos from biologist Maya Sears, taken in the Salish Sea, ...

In Memory of David Reuben

This week, we received the sad news that David Reuben, one of our most generous and committed supporters, has passed ...

Update on Results of the ESA III Study and Laboratory Analysis

These studies of sanctuary waters, sanctuary lands on shore and submerged soils in the ocean will help us chart a ...

How We Can Give Sanctuary to the Whales Who Cannot Wait

The loss of yet more orcas and beluga whales at entertainment parks this year means we can no longer work, ...

Tokitae’s Necropsy

Having reviewed the results of the orca Tokitae's necropsy, as released to the Miami Seaquarium by the University of Georgia ...

Diving into the Final Environmental Site Assessment

On July 24th, a team of divers assembled at the sanctuary site in Port Hilford Bay, Nova Scotia, to conduct ...

Tokitae the Orca’s Legacy

For everyone following the progress of the Tokitae over the past year, the news of her sudden death, last week, ...

Tokitae the Orca Has Passed Away

Over the last two days, Toki started exhibiting serious signs of discomfort. Despite receiving the best possible medical care, she ...

After Second Death This Year, Russian Aquarium Renounces Use of Captured Orcas

In the wake of two young captive orcas dying so far this year at the Moskvarium Aquarium in Moscow, the ...

Professional Standards Published for Whale & Dolphin Sanctuaries

Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries publishes best practices for cetacean sanctuaries. The guidelines are the product of a pioneering collaboration ...

Taking a Dive at the Sanctuary Site

Alexandra's first in-water field survey to advance our understanding of key areas in sanctuary waters and to identify species of ...

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