The Whale Sanctuary Blog

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

Are Beluga Whales Social Butterflies?

A new study shows beluga whales have an even more complex social life than we imagined, one that’s more similar ...

Reintroducing Keiko to the Wild – the “Free Willy” Whale

Two members of Keiko’s team talk about what it was like bringing him to Iceland on a giant cargo plane ...

“Please Don’t Interact with Curious Beluga Whales in the Ocean!”

A few of the beluga whales who had been captured illegally from Russian waters and were returned to the ocean ...

Letter to Russian Government re. Ban on Capture of Cetaceans

Letter to the President and Prime Minister of Russia in support of a ban on the capture of cetaceans for ...

Big and Beautiful: the Beluga Brain

In terms of brain size and complexity, beluga whales are among the most sophisticated cetaceans. These big beautiful brains underlie ...

Canaries of the Sea

We’ve barely begun to learn who these amazing, charming and complex beings are. Among their unique abilities is their highly ...

We Couldn’t Have Chosen a Better Site!

Port Hilford is a wonderful location for a seaside sanctuary for whales being retired from marine entertainment parks. It offers ...

A Message from Our President re. COVID-19

I wish you all health and well-being in what are trying times for everyone. And meanwhile, our work in creating ...

Canadian Senate Pays Tribute to Work of Whale Sanctuary Project

We are deeply honored by the speech by Senator Patricia Bovey in the Senate of Canada paying tribute to the ...

Whale Sanctuary Project selects Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, for sanctuary site

The Whale Sanctuary Project has announced that it will work together with Sherbrooke and the Municipality of the District of ...

Photographing Belugas in the Wild

Wildlife photographer Ellen Cuylaerts travels the world documenting animals and the challenges they face. We talked with her about her ...

Short Film about Whale Sanctuary Project Premieres at Film Festival

“Whales Without Walls,” a short film about the Whale Sanctuary Project, premieres at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2020.

What Does SeaWorld’s New “Orca Encounter” Teach Us?

On January 1st, 2020, SeaWorld Orlando replaces its “One Ocean” orca show with a new “Orca Encounter” that’s billed as ...

“Whales Without Walls” – a short film

This short film about why whales should be retired to sanctuaries has won multiple awards at film festivals.

Whale Aid Russia

This is the story of the biggest whale rescue in history – of the Whale Sanctuary Project’s work with the ...

The Whale Jail Is No More!

The last group of beluga whales from the “whale jail” in Russia have been returned to the ocean. The notorious ...

Site Search Report

This is a series of posts about our work in selecting a location for the first seaside sanctuary in North ...

Site Search in Nova Scotia

Third in a series of posts about our search for the best location for a seaside sanctuary for captive whales. ...

Site Search in Washington State

Second in a series of posts about our search for the best location for a seaside sanctuary for captive whales. ...

Site Search in British Columbia

First in a series of posts about our search for the best location for a seaside sanctuary for captive whales. ...

Statement on Russia’s Efforts to Release All Whales from “Whale Jail”

The Whale Sanctuary Project has issued the following statement regarding the continuing efforts to return to the ocean all the ...

Long Gone Wild

The documentary film Long Gone Wild focuses on the plight of orcas in captivity at marine entertainment parks and on ...

All 10 Orcas from the Whale Jail Have Now Been Returned to the Ocean

This week marked the completion of the return of the 10 orcas from the “whale jail” in Russia to the ...

Orca Brains and Intelligence

Dr. Lori Marino explores how a land animal with hooves, who was related to what are today cows and deer ...

Munchkin’s Orca Miracle® 360 Cup

Our lead sponsor, Munchkin, Inc., has just introduced a new Wild Love line of its #1 selling Miracle® 360° cup, ...

Munchkin’s “Wild Love” Miracle 360® Cups Promote Animal Conservation

Diana Barnes of Munchkin, Inc., writes about the company’s new line of Wild Love Miracle® 360° cups, featuring orcas and ...

Kids Envisioning a Better Future for Whales

The mysterious-looking large brown envelope that arrived from Captain John Palliser School in Calgary, Alberta, gave no indication of what ...

Third Group of Orcas Released from Whale Jail

Russian authorities have begun the transport and release of a third group of orcas from the “whale jail.” In response ...

Salish Sea Orca Sanctuary Project Kicks Off Public Meetings

Starting July 16, the Whale Sanctuary Project will kick off a series of public meetings across the Salish Sea region ...

Invitation to Meetings in Washington State

The Whale Sanctuary Project is holding a series of town meetings in Washington State to discuss the concept for a ...

Release of First Orcas and Belugas from “Whale Jail” Raises Growing Concerns

Serious questions are being raised about the care of the orcas and beluga whales who are being returned to the ...

Jean-Michel Cousteau and Whale Sanctuary Project Team on Returning Whales to Ocean

Russia has begun the process of returning the whales that were illegally captured last year back to the area where ...

Effects of Chronic Stress on Captive Orcas

A new paper demonstrates that the poor well-being and high mortality rates of orcas (killer whales) in captive facilities can ...

Russia Begins Transport of Whales for Return to the Ocean

Russia has begun the process of returning to ocean waters the 10 orcas and 87 beluga whales who were captured ...

Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Letter to President Putin

Letter from Jean-Michel Cousteau to President Putin regarding the 97 orcas and beluga whales who were captured in order to ...

Canada Bans Captivity of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises

The House of Commons voted overwhelmingly in favor of Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act. ...

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