The Whale Sanctuary Blog

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

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 ...

Historic Initiative to Return Orca Lolita to Home Waters

The Miami Seaquarium has entered into an historic and legally binding agreement with the nonprofit organization Friends of Lolita to ...

How Kiska’s Death Can Be Given Meaning

Kiska the orca has died at Marineland. But her tragic death can still have meaning if we rally together to ...

Kiska the Orca Has Died at Marineland

Marineland Canada announced today that the orca Kiska has died of a bacterial infection. The news is devastating to all ...

Remembering Don Baur – Legal Counsel and Close Friend

He was always engaged in every aspect of the organization, not only its legal responsibilities or requirements.

Conference – “Toki: Present and Future” Day of Listening, December 13th

On Tuesday, December 13th, Friends of Toki (formerly known as “Friends of Lolita”) will host the “Toki: Present and Future” ...

Winter Newsletter 2022/3 – A New Life for Captive Whales

Here is a copy of our Summer Newsletter: "Creating the Whale Sanctuary." Read about progress at the sanctuary site and ...

Sanctuary, Parliament and Synchronicity

Over the last seven years, as the Canadian Parliament has been forging new ground in the protection of whales and ...

Orca from 2019 Whale Aid Rescue Spotted with Pod

One of the 97 orcas who were rescued from the infamous "whale jail" in 2019 and returned to their ocean ...

Update on Environmental Assessments at the Sanctuary Site

These studies are not only to understand the environment for the whales and the sanctuary infrastructure, but to provide data ...

Orca Kohana Dies at Loro Parque Zoo

Loro Parque Zoo announced the death of the orca Kohana at the young age of 20. We should be shocked. ...

Five Fundamental Rights of Whales & Dolphins

Tom White, author of "In Defense of Dolphins" talks about how flourishing is the key to understanding the argument for ...

The Death of Nakai and the Future of Captive Whales

The young orca Nakai, who was born at SeaWorld San Diego and lived in a tank there all of his ...

New Legislation Would End Whale Captivity in United States

A bill has been introduced into the United States Congress to prevent the future capture and breeding of whales for ...

Summer Newsletter 2022 – Creating the Whale Sanctuary

Here is a copy of our Summer Newsletter: "Creating the Whale Sanctuary." Read about progress at the sanctuary site and ...

Independent Veterinarians Complete Their First Assessment of Tokitae (Lolita) at Miami Seaquarium

An update on the progress of the independent assessment of the physical and mental health of the orca Tokitae (generally ...

A Whale of an Art Show!

Students at a Texas elementary school raise funds and awareness to help orcas and belugas It all began five years ...

Wendy McCaw: a Lifeline for Animals

The Wendy P. McCaw Foundation has been the major supporter of the Whale Sanctuary Project since 2017. Wendy's work protects ...

Lolita/Tokitae to be Examined by Independent Vets

  Mayor Danielle Levine Cava, entrepreneur and conservationist Pritam Singh, and Whale Sanctuary Project Executive Director Charles Vinick. (View the ...

How to Be a Successful Whale or Dolphin

How whales teach their young, learn from their families and friends, and pass along their culture to new generations.

Our Year-End “Ask Us Anything” Webinar

In this webinar, Dr. Lori Marino and Charles Vinick answer a wide range of questions: from when the sanctuary will ...

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