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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251114T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251114T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20251110T202459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251110T203608Z
UID:10934-1763136000-1763139600@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:The Paper They Tried to Suppress
DESCRIPTION:When: Friday\, November 14th\, 2025\, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)\nRegister for the webinar here. \nWhy did the captivity industry try so hard to stop a meticulously researched and fully peer reviewed paper from being published? \nVery simply\, the paper provides the most comprehensive review to date of the challenges faced by captive cetaceans. And in this webinar\, you’ll meet three of the six scientists who led the review: \nCatherine Doyle\, MS\, Director of Science\, Research and Advocacy at Performing Animal Welfare Society. \nBob Jacobs\, PhD\, Professor Emeritus at Colorado College. \nLori Marino\, PhD\, President of the Whale Sanctuary Project and lead author of the study. \nWhile the results of their research are presented in an understated manner\, the conclusions are indisputable: \n“The contrast between the restrictive nature of captive environments and the dynamic\, multifaceted characteristics of the natural environment highlights the difficulties faced by cetaceans in captivity. Despite efforts by some facilities to improve conditions\, serious welfare challenges persist\, raising critical ethical concerns about the well-being of captive cetaceans.” \nIn this webinar\, Dr. Marino and her guests will discuss how their findings echo growing concern among scientists and the public\, who increasingly question the ethics of confining such intelligent and socially complex animals for entertainment and display. And how it is becoming increasingly clear that cetaceans are fundamentally unsuited to life in captivity – both ethically and practically. \nWhen: Friday\, November 14th\, 2025\, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)\nRegister for the webinar here.\nJoin us on November 14th at 4:00pm EST\nAnd bring your questions to the meeting or send them in advance by email. \nP.S. If you would like to read the paper in advance of the webinar\, go here.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/the-paper-they-tried-to-suppress/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Webinar-2025-1014-640px.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250531T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250601T190000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20250520T194325Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250523T192558Z
UID:10590-1748714400-1748804400@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:World Ocean Day – 2nd Annual Celebration
DESCRIPTION:A weekend of all-ages fun and learning with ocean-focused organizations\, ocean-themed carnival games\, immersive learning activities and presentations. \nWHERE: Whale Sanctuary Visitor Centre: 8186 HIGHWAY 7\, SHERBROOKE\, NOVA SCOTIA\, CANADA\nWHEN:  Saturday\, May 31st\, 6:00-7:30pm and Sunday\, June 1st\, 1-4pm \nCo-hosted by St Mary’s Municipality and the Whale Sanctuary Project in Sherbrooke\, NS\, we will explore our connection to the ocean\, focus on sustainability\, and the importance of a healthy ocean for all — and our collective connection to it. As part of the international World Ocean Day movement and in tandem with the Ocean Week Canada collective\, this will be a family-friendly opportunity to learn about the ocean and its denizens and to improve literacy in Nova Scotia. \nCome together with our ocean community for two special events: \nMy Life Re-Homing Whales and Dolphins to the Ocean\nSaturday\, May 31st\, 6:00pm\nGuest Speaker: Jeff Foster\, Animal Transfer & Rehab Coordinator for The Whale Sanctuary Project. \nJeff has worked in the marine mammal field for 45 years. He played a key role in helping return Keiko\, the “Free Willy” whale\, to his home waters in Iceland\, and has been involved in many rescue\, rehabilitation and release efforts for whales and dolphins. \nJeff has received numerous accolades and awards for his contributions to the marine mammal field\, including NOAA’s Environmental Hero of the Year 2006\, received for his dolphin rescue work during hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Southeast Asia. \nFor this special Ocean Day event\, Jeff will be sharing some of his remarkable stories from in the field. \nOcean Day Afternoon of Family Fun & Mind-Expanding Activities\nSunday\, June 1st\, 1-4pm. \nJoin us for an afternoon of all-ages fun and learning with local ocean-focused organizations. \nEnjoy the ocean-themed carnival games\, arts & crafts\, face painting\, and immersive learning activities for youth. \nBoth events are free. Light refreshments will be available\, and everyone is welcome. Wheelchair accessible. \nVisit our local Facebook page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/whalesanctuaryporthilford \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/world-ocean-day-2nd-annual-celebration/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Ocean-Day-Events-page-600px.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241218T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241218T200000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20241210T233156Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241211T180519Z
UID:10359-1734548400-1734552000@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:2024 Year in Review: The Sanctuary\, the Whales\, the Future
DESCRIPTION:Wednesday\, December 18th at 7:00pm Eastern Time\nRegister for the webinar here.\n\nAs 2024 ends\, we enter a critical phase in our effort to complete the sanctuary and welcome the first whale residents. We invite everyone who supports and follows the work of the Whale Sanctuary Project to join us for a gathering that will detail the project’s most pressing updates and discuss the crucial support still needed to bring it to life.  \nThe year began with our formal proposal to Marineland Antibes\, a theme park in the south of France\, to retire a family of orcas – Wikie\, Inouk and Keijo – to the whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia. \nAnd the year ends with our expectation that\, any day now\, the French Minister of Ecological Transition will issue a decision over whether Wikie and Keijo (sadly\, Inouk died in March) should come to the sanctuary or be sent to the Loro Parque Zoo in the Canary Islands. \nAt this year-end wrap-up webinar\, Dr. Lori Marino\, our founder and president\, and Charles Vinick\, our executive director\, will review the urgent international diplomacy\, fundraising efforts\, and developments at the sanctuary site that have been at the heart of our work to save Wikie and Keijo from further grief and loss. \nCharles and Lori will also discuss how we may be able to help the 30 surviving beluga whales at Marineland Canada\, along with the Letter of Intent we have signed with the Lotte World Aquarium in South Korea to bring the lone beluga whale Bella to the Nova Scotia sanctuary. \nAll three of these situations point to the growing need for a global sanctuary movement to address the plight of whales and dolphins in captivity around the world. \nAnd these will be the topics for a review of this pivotal year – along with a look ahead at the progress to come in 2025. \nJoin us on Wednesday\, December 18th at 7:00 PM Eastern \nRegister for the webinar here. \nAnd bring your questions to the meeting or send them in advance by email.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/2024-year-in-review-sanctuary-whales-the-future/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Year-in-review-2024-640px.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240523T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240523T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20240517T134558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240517T144420Z
UID:9755-1716480000-1716483600@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Whale Sanctuary Spring Update
DESCRIPTION:Thursday May 23rd at 4:00pm Eastern Time\nRegister for the webinar here.\n\nJoin Dr. Lori Marino\, President and Charles Vinick\, Executive Director\, for a Spring Update on our work in establishing the sanctuary in Nova Scotia and welcoming the first whales. \nThey’ll be discussing our accelerated plan to respond to the urgent need of Wikie and Keijo\, the two surviving orcas at Marineland Antibes. We have submitted a formal proposal to the French government advocating for the Nova Scotia sanctuary to be Wikie and Keijo’s new home and are awaiting the government’s decision. Our plan is contingent on this process leading to an agreement with Marineland to retire Wikie and Keijo to the sanctuary rather than sending them to an aquarium in Japan. \nCharles will describe the state-of-the-art bay pen that’s being constructed to welcome them to the sanctuary while installation of the mile-long perimeter net is completed. The bay pen is larger than the entire space they have at Marineland. It will serve as a “welcome center” for all newly arriving whales\, where they can be observed and receive any necessary treatment while acclimating themselves to their new surrounds before being released into the full area of the sanctuary. It will also be the hub for the animals’ routine veterinary care. \nWe’ll also discuss the four years of environmental and site development work to ensure the site is a suitable long-term habitat for whale residents. \nAnd other topics will include our work with the Jane Goodall Institute to foster the efforts of groups around the world who are working to bring an end to the captivity of whales and dolphins and to establish sanctuaries for them. \nPlease bring your questions or send them in advance to info@whalesanctuary.org . \nRegister for the webinar here.\nYou can bring your questions or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Thursday May 23rd at 4:00pm Eastern Time.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/whale-sanctuary-spring-update/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230914T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230914T140000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20230908T133242Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230908T150014Z
UID:9143-1694696400-1694700000@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:How Sanctuaries Can Heal the Trauma of Captivity
DESCRIPTION:When: Thursday\, September 14th\, 2023\, at 1:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (US and Canada)\nRegister for the webinar here. \nElephants and whales share several characteristics that lead to their suffering intense trauma in captive entertainment settings like zoos\, circuses and marine parks. \nThese large-brained\, highly social mammals with long childhoods and strong cultures need to mature in closely bonded social groups. At an authentic sanctuary\, they can heal from their trauma by being provided with more of what they need to thrive while being cared for by experts. \nIt is our pleasure to bring you a conversation with Scott and Kat Blais\, founders of the Global Sanctuary for Elephants\, which runs a beautiful\, lush 2\,800-acre sanctuary for elephants in Chapada dos Guimarães\, Brazil. The sanctuary already cares for six Asian elephants rescued from circuses and zoos. And more are on the way. \nAs soon as they arrive at the sanctuary\, the elephants begin their journey of healing – in mind and body – from the traumas of the entertainment business. Here they can finally rediscover who they truly are as elephants. \nIn this interview\, live from the sanctuary grounds in Brazil\, Dr. Lori Marino\, Founder and President of the Whale Sanctuary Project\, talks to Scott and Kat about how they got started\, how they help the elephants regain some of their mental\, emotional and physical health\, the challenges involved\, and what we can do together to grow the sanctuary movement for all large animals. \nAbout Scott and Kat Blais: \n \nScott Blais is the CEO and cofounder of Global Sanctuary for Elephants. For more than 30 years\, he has focused his life to improve the welfare of captive elephants through the complex understanding of their physical\, emotional\, and psychological needs. He is the cofounder of two renowned natural habitat elephant sanctuaries: The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee and Elephant Sanctuary Brazil\, the only sanctuary for elephants. \nScott’s ever-evolving approach to elephant rehabilitation focuses on each elephant’s unique emotional journey and how\, as caregivers\, we can facilitate their growth beyond healing. His groundbreaking work has served to transform how the world views the complex lives of captive elephants\, the negative impact of captivity\, and the profound impact of sanctuary life. \nKatherine Blais is the cofounder and Director of Elephant Health and Wellbeing for Global Sanctuary for Elephants. She carries over 18 years of experience with captive elephant care and recovery\, formerly serving as lead caregiver and the veterinary liaison at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. \nCurrently\, Katherine oversees a team of veterinarians residing across the globe\, all of whom assist in the care of the elephants at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil. She has over 30 years of experience in the veterinary field\, with specialties in exotic animals\, holistic medicine\, and wildlife rehabilitation. Her unique approach to understanding every component of elephant health and wellbeing is fundamental to providing the nuanced and adaptive care for elephants to thrive within sanctuary. \nWhen: Thursday\, September 14th\, 2023\, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)\nRegister for the webinar here.\nBring your questions or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Thursday\, September 14th at 1:00 pm EDT.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/how-sanctuaries-can-heal-the-trauma-of-captivity/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Webinar-Elephant-Sanctuary-Brazil-promo-920.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230714T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230714T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20230627T112235Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230627T112550Z
UID:9048-1689350400-1689354000@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:On World Orca Day: Blackfish the Movie\, 10 Years Later
DESCRIPTION:Ten years ago\, the movie Blackfish rocked SeaWorld and the entire marine park entertainment industry with its revelations about the extreme stress captive whales experience living in concrete tanks. \nWith vivid and disturbing evidence\, the documentary brought to light how captive orcas are forced to perform and to breed and how these stressors lead to aggression toward other orcas and humans. \nIn this webinar\, three experts on orcas will review the far-reaching changes that have already occurred. And then they’ll discuss the challenges to be met before all whales and dolphins can be retired to sanctuaries and no cetaceans remain at entertainment facilities. \nDr. Lori Marino\, the foremost expert on the brains of whales and dolphins\, will be joined by:\nTim Zimmerman\, the journalist who wrote the feature article The Killer in the Pool\, and:\nDr. Jeffrey Ventre\, a former orca trainer at SeaWorld.\nAll three were involved in the making of the movie. \nWhen: Friday\, July 14\, 2023\, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) \nRegister for the webinar here. \nBring your questions or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Friday\, July 14th at 4:00 pm EDT.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/on-world-orca-day-blackfish-the-movie-10-years-later/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230414T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230414T140000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20230406T212604Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230406T222955Z
UID:9024-1681477200-1681480800@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Walking Whales: Evolution of the Ocean's Brainiest Mammals
DESCRIPTION:In this webinar we discuss the early evolution of cetaceans (dolphins\, whales and porpoises) and how they developed from being land-dwelling mammals to becoming ocean-dwelling animals with some of the biggest and most complex brains on Earth. \nWe’ll also talk about how our understanding of the evolution of whales may inform some of our work with whales at the sanctuary. \nOur special guest is Dr. Mark Uhen\, Associate Professor of Geology at George Mason University. \nDr. Uhen’s research focuses on the origin and evolution of cetaceans. He has published in scientific journals and books\, and speaks regularly at scientific conferences. He is also an expert in the fascinating world of cetacean paleobiology (the study of cetacean fossils). And he and Dr. Marino have worked together on several studies of cetacean brain evolution (like this one). \nWhen: Friday\, April 14\, 2023\, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) \nRegister for the webinar here. \nBring your questions or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Friday\, April 14th at 1:00 pm EDT\, 10.00 am PDT. \n 
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/walking-whales-evolution-of-the-oceans-brainiest-mammals/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Walking-Whales-promo-640.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230405T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230405T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20230328T144724Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230328T145419Z
UID:8999-1680710400-1680714000@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Spring Update Webinar 2023
DESCRIPTION:Wednesday April 5th at 4:00pm Eastern Time\nRegister for the webinar here.\n\nJoin Dr. Lori Marino\, President and Founder\, and Charles Vinick\, Executive Director\, for an update on the Whale Sanctuary Project\, all the latest since our winter update\, and what we look forward to achieving through the rest of this year. \nLori and Charles will talk about work at the sanctuary site\, in particular the soil studies that our consultants have recently been conducting. \nThey’ll also talk about what we know – and what we don’t know – about the death of the orca Kiska at Marineland Canada and what the Mayor of Niagara Falls has said about the possible sale of Marineland. Also\, the progress on Canadian Senate Bill S-241\, “The Jane Goodall Act”\, which would extend protections enacted in the 2019 “Ending the Captivity of Whales & Dolphins Act.” \nAnd\, regarding our Whale Aid programs\, Charles will bring us up to date on our participation in the unprecedented collaboration at the Miami Seaquarium among non-profit groups\, independent veterinarians\, the owners of the Seaquarium\, and local government\, to create a better future for the orca Tokitae\, who has been living there for more than 50 years. \nAll of this and more\, and Lori and Charles look forward to answering your questions. \nRegister for the webinar here.\nYou can bring your questions or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Wednesday\, April 5th\, at 4:00pm Eastern Time. \n  \n 
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/spring-update-webinar-2023/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Spring-Update-webinar_640.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221220T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221220T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20221211T181325Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221211T183438Z
UID:8546-1671552000-1671555600@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Ask Us Anything!
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday December 20th at 4:00pm Eastern Time\nRegister for the webinar here.\n\nJoin Dr. Lori Marino\, President and Founder\, and Charles Vinick\, Executive Director\, for a year-end chat about the Whale Sanctuary Project: major accomplishments of this year and what we’re looking to achieve next year. \nLori and Charles will talk about work at the sanctuary site\, the recent large grant to the Building Fund\, and construction plans. \nThey will also discuss developments in the Canadian Senate and the United States Congress regarding captive whales. In Canada\, the Senate is debating Bill S-241\, The Jane Goodall Act\, which would extend protections in the 2019 “Ending the Captivity of Whales & Dolphins Act.” And in the U.S.\, Congressman Adam Schiff and colleagues have introduced the SWIMS Act (Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings) to prevent the future capture and breeding of whales for public display and thus\, over time\, to end the exploitation of whales in entertainment parks and aquariums. \nLori and Charles will also bring us up to date on how the Whale Sanctuary Project is participating in an unprecedented collaboration at the Miami Seaquarium among nonprofit groups\, independent veterinarians\, the new owners of the Seaquarium\, and local government\, to create a better future for the orca Tokitae\, who has been living there for more than 50 years. \nAll of this and more\, and Lori and Charles look forward to answering your questions. \nRegister for the webinar here. \nYou can bring your questions or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Tuesday\, December 20th\, at 4:00pm Eastern Time.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/ask-us-anything-2022/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221027T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221027T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20221019T143846Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221019T144625Z
UID:8484-1666886400-1666890000@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Wild Animal Sanctuaries – the New Face of Humane Education
DESCRIPTION:Humane Education is most well-known for its focus on our relationship to companion animals. But as a field\, it actually encompasses our relationship to other people\, all animal species\, and our natural environment. \nAs more and more people say they no longer want to see wild animals held captive in zoos\, aquariums\, circuses and marine entertainment parks\, authentic wild animal sanctuaries are becoming essential parts of the animal protection landscape. \nSanctuaries are the instantiation of this change in our relationship to wildlife. They teach a new model of respect for our fellow animals. \nIn this webinar\, Dr. Lori Marino talks with guests about the new focus on wildlife in their humane education programs and how sanctuaries – including the coming Whale Sanctuary in Nova Scotia – are playing an essential role in driving education and cultural change. \nGuests:\nMeena Alagappan\, Executive Director of H.E.A.R.T. (Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers)\nKimberly Korona\, Senior Program Director\, H.E.A.R.T.\nCatherine Doyle\, Director of Science\, Research\, and Advocacy\, PAWS (Performing Animal Welfare Society) \nRegister for the webinar here.\nBring your questions or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Thursday\, October 27th at 4:00 pm EDT\, 1.00 pm PDT.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/wild-animal-sanctuaries-the-new-face-of-humane-education/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20221023T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20221023T180000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20220928T151646Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221022T210521Z
UID:8417-1666539000-1666548000@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Santa Barbara Cruise Boat to Host Talk about Sanctuary
DESCRIPTION:October 22nd: Registration for this event is now closed. \nAttention\, Southern Californians: Join Charles Vinick\, Executive Director of the Whale Sanctuary Project\, aboard the Condor Express whale-watching boat for a two-hour cruise along the coast of Santa Barbara. \nAlong the way\, Charles will talk about North America’s first coastal sanctuary for orca and beluga whales being retired from marine entertainment parks. The sanctuary is being established in Port Hilford\, Nova Scotia. \nA new life is possible beyond the tanks! \nWHEN: Sunday\, October 23rd\, 4-6pm\, boarding at 3:30pm\nWHERE: Departs from the Landing Dock in Santa Barbara Harbor\nCOST: Minimum donation $35 per person\nFOOD: Includes complimentary appetizers\nDRINK: No-host bar \n  \nQuestions: info@whalesanctuary.org\nwww.whalesanctuary.org \n 
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/whale-watching-cruise-boat-to-host-talk-about-sanctuary/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/WSPCondor-Express-web.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220901T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220901T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20220824T131231Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220824T133600Z
UID:8355-1662048000-1662051600@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:The Five Fundamental Rights of Whales and Dolphins
DESCRIPTION:Register here for this special webinar event. \nWe humans are self-aware beings who share strong emotional and social bonds with others\, live according to cultural traditions\, and have a sense of our life in time\, remembering the past and planning for the future. As such\, we consider ourselves to be “persons” with certain fundamental natural and moral rights. \nBut many other animals possess those same characteristics – in particular cetaceans (whales\, dolphins and porpoises). \nIn this conversation\, Dr. Lori Marino and Dr. Thomas I. White\, author of In Defense of Dolphins: The New Moral Frontier\, discuss five fundamental natural and moral rights of cetaceans: \n\nThe right to life and bodily integrity (not to be subjected to invasive treatment);\nThe right to bodily freedom and residence within their natural environment (not to be subjected to captivity or servitude);\nThe right not to be owned or to be the property of any state\, corporation\, human group or individual;\nThe right to protection of their natural environment;\nAnd the right to protection of their culture.\n\nAs humans\, we claim these natural rights – often referred to as inalienable rights – by virtue of the simple fact that we are human. Unlike legal rights\, we say they do not depend on governments and their laws. They would exist even if the government didn’t exist. \nTo what extent\, then\, do other animals have certain inalienable rights? \nIn this webinar Drs. Marino and White explore these rights and how they can be summed up in the most fundamental of all rights: the right to flourish. \nRegister in advance for this webinar:\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_i_fx5havSCqbPV9kX-Iplg \nThursday\, September 1st\, 4–5 pm Eastern Daylight Time (8-9pm UTC) \nAbout Lori’s guest: Thomas I. White\, Ph.D.\nThe main focus of Tom White’s research is the philosophical and ethical implications of scientific research on whales and dolphins.  He argues that such practices as the captivity of dolphins and orcas\, the deaths and injuries of dolphins in connection with hunting and fishing practices\, and attempts to bring back commercial whaling are all ethically indefensible. \nProfessor White is the author of six books and numerous articles on topics ranging from contemporary applied ethics to sixteenth-century renaissance humanism. \nHe served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nation’s 2007/8 Year of the Dolphin Program\, and he is a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics\, a member of the Advisory Committee to the Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy\, and a Scientific Advisor to the Wild Dolphin Project. \n 
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/the-five-fundamental-rights-of-whales-and-dolphins/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220714T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220714T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20220708T020257Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220708T021220Z
UID:8248-1657814400-1657818000@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:A Special Event for World Orca Day
DESCRIPTION:Register here for this special webinar event. \nDr. Ingrid Visser is the founder of World Orca Day and of the Orca Research Trust\, the only research project dedicated to orcas in the South Pacific. \nJoin Dr. Lori Marino for a fascinating discussion with this one-of-a-kind scientist\, who grew up in New Zealand and\, when she was 16 years old\, sailed around the world with her father and a rescued monkey\, who became her constant companion. \nIngrid earned her Ph.D. with a research project on orcas. Her research today focuses on the cultural aspects of orca behavior\, in particular their feeding methods and socializing. \nWith the benefit of her understanding of orca psychology and behavior\, Dr. Visser campaigns around the world for captive orcas to be transferred from their featureless concrete tanks to sanctuaries with more natural settings or\, where possible\, for them to be rehabilitated and released back into the wild. \nIngrid also swims regularly with orcas in the open ocean. And in this World Orca Day conversation\, she will talk about her experiences with orcas around the world\, both captive and free-ranging\, and what she has learned from them and about them. \nJuly 14th at 4:00pm U.S. Eastern Time. \nRegister in advance for this webinar:\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4oN6tBkvTRGHF3YECPxxGg \nHost: Dr. Lori Marino\, Founder & President of the Whale Sanctuary Project.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/a-special-event-for-world-orca-day/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220630T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220630T140000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20220624T140503Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220624T171846Z
UID:8232-1656594000-1656597600@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Canada's Ban on Whales as Entertainment. Could It Happen in the U.S.?
DESCRIPTION:Following passage of Bill S-203: the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act in Canada in 2019\, the proposed Jane Goodall Bill adds further protections to the earlier bill\, phases out elephant captivity\, and includes new legal protections for captive big cats\, bears\, wolves\, seals\, sea lions\, walruses\, certain monkeys\, and dangerous reptiles\, such as crocodiles and giant pythons. \nCanada is now a world leader in strong legislation in the protection of captive whales and dolphins as well as many other kinds of animals. \nCould anything similar to these bills be enacted in the United States? If not\, what makes legislation like this possible in its neighbor to the north? \nIn this webinar three experts will discuss how the “Ending the Captivity of Whales & Dolphins” was accomplished\, how the Jane Goodall Act is faring as it works its way through Parliament\, what other legal gains are still needed\, and whether legislation of this caliber could happen in the United States. \nJune 30th at 1:00pm U.S. Eastern Time. \nRegister in advance for this webinar:\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_emMoy-WgTm-iyzzKI3qLuQ \nHost: Dr. Lori Marino\, Founder & President of the Whale Sanctuary Project. \nGuests:\nDr. Naomi Rose is the marine mammal scientist for the Animal Welfare Institute in Washington\, DC\, where she works on several campaigns and coalitions addressing problems associated with cetacean live capture\, trade and captivity\, both in the U.S. and abroad. \nMarty McKendry is a lawyer and parliamentary advisor to Senators Pierre Dalphond and Marty Klyne\, the sponsor of the Jane Goodall Act. He previously worked with the Honourable Murray Sinclair to draft and introduce the original version of the bill and with the Honourable Wilfred Moore to draft and advance the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act. \nCamille Labchuk\, Executive Director\, Animal Justice Canada\, is one of Canada’s leading animal rights lawyers. Her work includes documenting the commercial seal kill on Canada’s East Coast\, exposing cruelty in farming\, protecting the free speech rights of animal advocates\, and campaigns against trophy hunting\, circuses\, zoos\, aquariums\, shark finning\, puppy mills\, and more.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/canadas-banning-of-dolphin-whale-entertainment-could-it-happen-here/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220516T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220516T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20220508T173536Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220509T185130Z
UID:8161-1652716800-1652720400@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:“Captive” - a Conversation with Animal Photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur
DESCRIPTION:Monday May 16th at 4–5pm ET \nRegister in advance for this webinar:\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_saDDMYd2Se2NAtCeDowYSA \nA picture\, we all know\, is worth a thousand words. And at a time when marine parks and aquariums are coming under increasing scrutiny\, the work of award-winning photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur reveals deeper truths than mere words ever can about what life is like for the animals at these facilities. \nIn this live webinar\, Dr. Lori Marino will explore with Jo-Anne what some of her photographs reveal about the lives of dolphins and whales at captive facilities. \nThe images are powerful and haunting. They challenge many of the preconceptions that people have about life in captivity and compel us to ask ourselves what it is that we are actually seeing when we watch a dolphin performing tricks or a beluga whale swimming in circles in a tank? \nJo-Anne has documented the lives of captive animals in more than 60 countries\, and the remarkable images in her book Captive expose the reality of what we impose on animals when we put them on display for our entertainment. \nHer work as a photojournalist has led her to the creation of the non-profit We Animals Media\, a growing network of award-winning photographers and videographers that extends throughout the world\, documenting stories of animals who are used for food\, fashion\, entertainment and experimentation. This globally accessible resource is made available for free to anyone working to inspire compassion\, conversation and change.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/captive-a-conversation-with-animal-photojournalist-jo-anne-mcarthur/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220224T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220224T160000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20220217T003148Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220217T004153Z
UID:7936-1645718400-1645718400@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Who Are Beluga Whales?
DESCRIPTION:Three top scientists will be presenting their latest discoveries about beluga whale societies\, communication and culture (the knowledge they pass on from generation to generation). \nOne of the big questions they’ve been probing is: Do these highly intelligent whales have different dialects depending on where they come from? We already know that this is true for orcas and sperm whales. And now we’re beginning to get the answers regarding belugas. \nAnother big question: How important is friendship among beluga whales? We know the importance of family among whales and many other kinds of animals. But friendships outside of one’s own extended family? Is that something we’re observing among belugas? And if so\, what does it mean? \nAnd how might we learn more about all this from beluga whales who come to the sanctuary and begin a new life there together in a natural environment?  Hear from these beluga experts and ask them anything you want to know about beluga whales. \nRegister in advance for this webinar:\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tYJKEFUxTemT9HXX5ABFNA \nHosted by Dr. Lori Marino of the Whale Sanctuary Project. Her guests are: \nGreg O’Corry Crowe\, Ph.D.\, Professor at Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.\nGreg is a National Geographic Explorer known for his groundbreaking research on social learning\, culture and resilience in beluga whales. He has studied kinship patterns and migratory culture in several beluga communities in the Arctic. His work also includes studies of Steller sea lions\, ice seals\, bottlenose dolphins and polar bears. \nValeria Vergara\, Ph.D.\, Senior Research Scientist and Co-Director of the Cetacean Conservation Research Program\, Raincoast Conservation Foundation.\nValeria has conducted groundbreaking studies of beluga whale communication both in captivity and in the wild. She is well-known for her discovery of contact calls between beluga whale mothers and calves and between adults\, and for illuminating the impacts of underwater noise on beluga communication. \nJaclyn Aubin\, M.S.\, Doctoral student\, Dept of Biological Sciences\, University of Windsor.\nJaclyn is a doctoral student studying acoustic communication in beluga whales. Through her work\, she hopes to use patterns of beluga contact call production to inform our understanding of social structure in St. Lawrence belugas\, with the ultimate goal of helping to protect this endangered population.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/who-are-beluga-whales/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211215T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211215T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20211208T014621Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211208T021524Z
UID:7878-1639584000-1639587600@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Ask Us Anything!
DESCRIPTION:Wednesday December 15th: 4:00pm Eastern Time\nRegister for the webinar here.\n\nJoin Dr. Lori Marino\, President and Founder\, and Charles Vinick\, Executive Director\, for a year-end chat about the Whale Sanctuary Project: major accomplishments of this year and what we’re looking to achieve next year. \nLori and Charles will talk about work at the sanctuary site and about developments in the world of public opinion. Just a few weeks ago\, for example\, we heard the very good news that the world’s largest travel company\, Expedia\, will no longer offer vacations that involve the use of whales and dolphins as entertainment. \nDecisions like this demonstrate just how far the movement to end the captivity of whales and dolphins has progressed in recent years. And developments like this bring added urgency to the need to create the first such sanctuary in North America for these highly intelligent and emotionally sensitive beings. \nWe’ll talk about all of this and more\, and Lori and Charles look forward to answering your questions. \nRegister for the webinar here. \nYou can bring your questions or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Wednesday\, December 15th\, at 4:00pm Eastern Time.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/ask-us-anything/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211117T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211117T201500
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20211111T145828Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211111T190057Z
UID:7783-1637175600-1637180100@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Dolphin Assisted Therapy\, Autism and Pseudoscience
DESCRIPTION:Wednesday November 17th: 7:00pm Eastern Time\nRegister for the webinar here.\n\nDolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT) is a type of dolphin swim program that is purported to be an effective treatment for autism and other conditions. Offered worldwide\, these programs typically involve the participant touching\, swimming with\, or being towed around by captive dolphins while engaged in more traditional tasks. Parents of autistic children and others are charged thousands of dollars and led to believe that they are engaging in real therapy. There is no oversight or accreditation for DAT.\n\nSeveral peer-reviewed scientific papers have shown that DAT rests upon weak methodological grounds and there is currently no evidence that DAT has any long-term therapeutic impact. Yet\, it continues to be marketed to desperate parents and people seeking relief for their problems. \nIn this webinar we will describe the standard DAT protocol and discuss why it is a pseudoscience – a practice mistakenly considered scientific. And we’ll discuss the considerable risks to participants of injury and disease transmission associated with swimming with captive dolphins\, as well as the exploitive and abusive practices that force dolphins into DAT performances. \nWe’ll also highlight some of the faulty assumptions that may follow when one pursues an experience that’s touted as a “therapy” and we’ll offer some important questions to ask providers. \nHost: Dr. Lori Marino\, neuroscientist and President of Whale Sanctuary Project.\nSpecial Guest: Dr. David Celiberti\, behavior analyst and Executive Director\, Association for Science in Autism Treatment. \nRegister for the webinar here. \nBring your questions\, too\, or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Wednesday\, November 17th\, at 7 pm Eastern Time.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/dolphin-assisted-therapy-autism-and-pseudoscience/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211021T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211021T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20211012T182137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211015T200011Z
UID:7660-1634832000-1634835600@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Poop\, Snot and Blow: Noninvasive Health Assessment in Cetacean Sanctuaries
DESCRIPTION:Authentic cetacean sanctuaries are places where the autonomy of the whales is a priority. Therefore\, studies of their psychology\, physiology and behavior\, while necessary for responsible care-giving\, should be as non-invasive and non-intrusive as possible. Developing methods that do not disturb the whales is an important aspect of sanctuary work\, and it can drive innovation in cetacean research in the wild. \nIn this webinar we explore three cutting-edge health assessment techniques that are already employed in the wild and that will be beneficial to sanctuary whales. And we’ll also discuss how procedures developed at the sanctuary can be used to improve health assessments in the wild. \n\nThursday October 21st: 4:00pm Eastern Time\nRegister for the webinar here.\n\n\nParticipants:\nJoining Dr. Lori Marino\, President of the Whale Sanctuary Project\, will be: \nJeff Foster\, who has worked with marine mammals for 45 years and is the Animal Transfer and Rehab Coordinator for the Whale Sanctuary Project. He has developed several techniques used to successfully rehabilitate and conserve cetaceans in the wild. Jeff will discuss his work in collaboration with other experts refining ways to take respiratory samples (blow) from free-ranging orcas in the Salish Sea. \nDr. Deborah Giles\, Science and Research Director of Wild Orca\, one of the world’s leading experts on the Southern Resident Killer Whale population in Washington state. She collaborates with University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology\, collecting and analyzing the feces of the free-ranging southern resident orcas. The samples reveal DNA\, stress\, reproductive and nutritional hormones\, as well as toxicants. (Collecting her samples requires the invaluable help of her famous poop-sniffing dog Eba!) \nDr. Iain Kerr\, CEO of Ocean Alliance (founded by Dr. Roger Payne in 1971)\, an innovator of non-invasive assessment techniques like SnotBot®\, a drone-based method of collecting health data non-invasively from free-ranging whales. The blow samples that SnotBot® collects contain DNA\, stress and pregnancy hormones\, microbiomes\, and possibly other indicators of the animal’s health. Iain has run over 40 expeditions in 20 countries and has been recognized as a Visionary Leader by the Annenberg Foundation. \nRegister for the webinar here. \nBring your questions\, too\, or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Thursday October 21st\, 2021\, at 4 pm Eastern Time.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/poop-snot-and-blow-noninvasive-health-assessment-in-cetacean-sanctuaries/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210930T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210930T171500
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20210917T165958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210917T174816Z
UID:7603-1633017600-1633022100@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Cetacean Sanctuaries: Centers for the Study of Natural Communication
DESCRIPTION:Whale and dolphin communication has been studied in captivity and in the wild. Sanctuaries will provide a more natural setting than aquariums\, along with a potentially more accessible and convenient way of studying communication among whales than in the wild. Therefore\, sanctuaries are places that can catalyze ways to validate and explore innovative methods of studying whale communication. \nIn this webinar we explore the various ways whale communication can be studied in sanctuaries with pioneers who are taking the study of whale and dolphin communication to the next level. \n\nThursday September 30th: 4:00 – 5:15 pm Eastern Time\nRegister for the webinar here.\n\n\nParticipants\nDr. Valeria Vergara has conducted groundbreaking studies of beluga whale communication both in captivity and in the wild and is well-known for her discovery of contact calls between beluga whale mothers and calves and between adults\, and for illuminating the impacts of underwater noise on beluga communication. \nAza Raskin is co-founder and executive director of the Earth Species Project\, a nonprofit organization devoted to decoding nonhuman communication and creating better interspecies understanding. He is also co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology. \nDr. Brenda McCowan is a biological anthropologist interested in vocal and social complexity in primates and cetaceans as a means to enhance their welfare and conservation. She and her colleagues use information theory (among other tools) to assess the diversity\, complexity\, and development of communicative repertoires across a wide range of species. \nDr. David Gruber is the founder and lead of Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative)\, an interdisciplinary project aimed at decoding sperm whale communication using advanced AI and non-invasive robotics. \nDr. James Crutchfield is a physicist whose interests are in the areas of complex systems and pattern discovery and how these can be applied to understanding nonhuman communication systems. \nRegister for the webinar here. \nBring your questions\, too\, or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Thursday September 30th\, 2021\, at 4 pm Eastern Time.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/cetacean-sanctuaries-as-centers-for-the-study-of-natural-communication/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210715T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210715T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20210707T142348Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210711T162004Z
UID:7258-1626363000-1626368400@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Big Brains in Small Spaces
DESCRIPTION:The Impact of Confinement on the Brains of Cetaceans and Elephants\nElephants and cetaceans (whales\, dolphins and porpoises) are socially complex and wide-ranging animals\, but these characteristics are incompatible with physical and mental welfare in the confined\, impoverished\, artificial environments of zoos and marine parks. \n\nThursday July 15th at 3:30pm Eastern Time\nRegister for the webinar here.\n\nIn this symposium\, we explore the potential harms of confinement in zoos and aquariums on the brains of elephants and cetaceans. We discuss the general brain mechanisms that come into play in all animals who are forced to live in chronically stressful\, impoverished and highly artificial environments. We describe the physical and mental abnormalities many elephants and cetaceans exhibit while living in zoos and marine parks. We also discuss the problematic ethics of keeping cetaceans and elephants captive in light of such harm. And we explore how sanctuaries can play a role in restoring the health and wellbeing of these animals. \nThis 90-minute live webinar will begin with four short\, pre-recorded videos on the following topics: \n\nNeurocaptivity: The impoverishment of the brain;\nNeuropsychiatric consequences of impoverished environments;\nConsequences of impoverished environments for the physical health of captive elephants and cetaceans;\nAutonomy and captive environments.\n\nThese will be followed by a live conversation and Q&A with webinar attendees. \nHosted by Lori Marino\, PhD\, neuroscientist and President of the Whale Sanctuary Project. \nGuests:\nBob Jacobs\, PhD\, Professor of Psychology\, Colorado College;\nL Syd Johnson\, PhD\, Associate Professor\, Center for Bioethics and Humanities\, Upstate Medical University;\nHeather Rally\, DVM\, Supervising Veterinarian\, Foundation to Support Animal Protection.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/big-brains-in-small-spaces/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210610T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210610T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20210602T005757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210602T011220Z
UID:7195-1623340800-1623344400@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:What Is an Authentic Sanctuary?
DESCRIPTION:Every year\, thousands of people pay good money to visit facilities that call themselves “sanctuaries” and offer an opportunity to visit with the animals\, maybe have a photo taken with them and\, in the case of elephants\, even ride them. \nBut are these places authentic sanctuaries? \nIn this webinar\, Dr. Lori Marino\, President of the Whale Sanctuary Project\, and Charles Vinick\, Executive Director\, will talk about the four questions you need to ask before visiting any sanctuary. If the answer to any of them is Yes\, then it’s not an authentic sanctuary. \n\nThursday June 10th at 4 pm Eastern Time\nRegister for the webinar here.\n\nA sanctuary is by definition a place where the wellbeing of the residents is always the priority. And the good news is that there are already hundreds of first-class sanctuaries all over the world: for elephants\, big cats\, bears\, great apes and other animals. And while visitors can usually take a tour\, there are no rides and no close-up experiences\, and everyone stays at a respectful distance from the residents. \nAnd now sanctuaries for whales and dolphins are becoming a reality. And in this webinar\, Lori and Charles will bring us up to date on progress at the whale sanctuary site in Nova Scotia. They’ll also discuss how it can set the gold-standard so that more and more whales and dolphins can be retired from performing at entertainment parks and aquariums around the world. \nRegister for the webinar here.\nBring your questions\, too\, or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Thursday June 10th\, 2021\, at 4 pm Eastern Time.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/what-is-an-authentic-sanctuary/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210506T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210506T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20210429T135547Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210429T144717Z
UID:7118-1620316800-1620320400@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Whales & Dolphins: Cultures of the Deep
DESCRIPTION:During the 18th and 19th centuries\, sperm whales were hunted down mercilessly with harpoons. But after a period of very prolific hunting\, the success of the whalers dropped dramatically. What happened? \nVery simply\, the whales devised a strategy to thwart the whalers and taught it to other whale populations. \nIn this webinar\, we talk with Dr. Hal Whitehead\, the world’s leading researcher on sperm whales about how these highly intelligent denizens of the deep use cultural transmission to protect each other and pass on their knowledge to future generations. \n\nThursday May 6th\, 2021 at 4 pm Eastern Time\nRegister for the webinar here.\n\nIn a recent paper\, Dr. Whitehead and his co-authors showed that the sperm whales learned defensive behaviors that reduced their risk of being killed during those early hunting expeditions. And the whales who experienced and survived a hunt passed their strategies on to other sperm whale populations. \nThis kind of learning was very rapid. And not too long ago\, it was considered taboo to talk about\, let alone study\, culture in other animals. Culture – the transmission of learned behaviors – was considered unique to humans. \nBut field studies have developed to the point where the evidence for cultural transmission among many nonhuman species has become undeniable. And today\, the study of cultures is accepted as integral to an understanding of cetaceans\, great apes and many other animals. \nOrcas\, sperm whales\, beluga whales\, bottlenose dolphins\, and many other cetaceans possess unique cultural traditions that differentiate groups on the basis of dialect\, social norms\, hunting strategies and other dimensions of their social lives. \nIn this webinar\, Dr. Lori Marino\, President of the Whale Sanctuary Project\, will be talking with Dr. Whitehead about his pioneering work on culture in dolphins and whales that has brought to light how sophisticated and intelligent these aquatic mammals are. They’ll discuss other forms of dolphin and whale culture in communication\, social relationships\, feeding\, and even tool use. \nAnd they’ll talk about how\, because each cetacean group is a unique culture\, when that group is endangered so are all the traditions and wisdom they’ve developed – never to be replaced. \nRegister for the webinar here.\nBring your questions\, too\, or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Thursday May 6th\, 2021 at 4 pm Eastern Time.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/whales-dolphins-cultures-of-the-deep/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210415T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210415T170000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20210407T181653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T142545Z
UID:7099-1618502400-1618506000@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Judges Say the Darndest Things!
DESCRIPTION:Great apes\, elephants and cetaceans (whales and dolphins) all demonstrate autonomy – a classic hallmark of personhood. Yet the effort to recognize nonhuman animals as legal persons in courts of law remains an uphill struggle to overcome the inherent biases in how we humans view other animals. \nNone of us are exempt from experiencing bias\, but judges are in the unique position of weighing and deciding upon scientific\, philosophical and legal arguments put forth on behalf of nonhuman animals. \nIn its work to secure legal rights for other animals\, the Nonhuman Rights Project has the unenviable task of not only delivering cogent arguments about the cognitive characteristics of elephants\, great apes and cetaceans\, but also overcoming inherent confirmation biases in our society about the abilities of these animals\, including the “giggle factor” that prevents us from even taking the matter seriously. \nIn this live webinar\, we will explore these issues from a scientific\, philosophical and legal perspective\, focusing on the ways many courtroom judges reflect our society’s biases against animals. We give examples of what judges have said that reveal this mindset. And we discuss ways we can overcome these challenges to attain legal rights for animal clients. \nThis webinar is a joint event between the Whale Sanctuary Project and the Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy. \nRegister for the webinar here.\nBring your questions\, too\, or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Thursday\, April 15th at 4:00 pm EDT.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/judges-say-the-darndest-things/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210403T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210403T150000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20210329T192911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210329T195325Z
UID:7093-1617458400-1617462000@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:World Aquatic Animal Day - Special Event
DESCRIPTION:At this special event from the Lewis & Clark Center for Animal Law\, Dr. Lori Marino will talk about The Whale Sanctuary Project – Creating A New Future for Captive Cetaceans. \nDr. Marino will discuss the growing evidence for poor health and well-being in captive cetaceans and why she founded the Whale Sanctuary Project as an alternative to concrete tanks in entertainment parks. \nShe will also explain the difference between an authentic sanctuary and places that just call themselves sanctuaries. \nAnd then she’ll talk about the beluga and orca sanctuary being created in Nova Scotia and why cetacean sanctuaries are the way of the future. \nRegister here. And you can learn more about the event here.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/world-aquatic-animal-day-special-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210302T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210302T160000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20210222T192605Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210223T144050Z
UID:7017-1614697200-1614700800@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:"What I Wish I Could Ask a Whale"
DESCRIPTION:“In my aboriginal upbringing\, we were always taught that animals are our brothers and sisters. They are living beings like us. They have their own spirits\, they have their own families\, they have their own language. And when I think of it that way\, I see cetaceans as [our] equals.” \n \nThat’s the perspective that Senator Daniel Christmas brought to the Canadian Senate in June 2018 as members were preparing to vote on Senate Bill S-203: The Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act. \nDr. Lori Marino\, President of the Whale Sanctuary Project\, had testified at the Senate committee hearings\, and Senator Christmas has since become an enthusiastic supporter of the sanctuary. \nIn the upcoming webinar\, the Senator joins Lori for a conversation about the whale sanctuary and how it will affect captive whales\, and also about how whales feature in the Senator’s aboriginal Mi’kmaq culture. Her questions include: \n\nIn your speech to the Canadian Senate you said you wished it had been possible to hear directly from a beluga whale. What would you have liked to ask them?\nMi’kmaq culture includes the concept that whales are our equals and that a human can “become” a whale or another animal\, and vice versa. In what sense is that the case?\nOne of the Mi’kmaq cultural heroes has a close relationship with a spirit whale who carries him across the ocean. What is their relationship and what is its significance?\n\nRegister for the webinar here.\nBring your questions\, too\, or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Tuesday\, March 2nd at 3:00 pm EDT.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/what-i-wish-i-could-ask-a-whale/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210130T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210130T150000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20210121T183748Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210128T191629Z
UID:6977-1612015200-1612018800@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:The Science of Whales - American Cetacean Society Conference
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Lori Marino will be speaking on the topic of “The Whale Sanctuary Project: Scholar Advocacy in Action at the conference of the American Cetacean Society.” \nThe topic of the conference is “SCIENCE OF WHALES: Understanding the History – Informing Conservation Today.” \nThe American Cetacean Society brings education\, current research\, and critical conservation issues to people who care about cetaceans and the habitats on which they depend. Its National Student Coalition hosts monthly speakers\, provides volunteer opportunities\, and conducts citizen science projects to benefit cetacean education\, conservation and research. \nDr. Marino will talk about the work of the Whale Sanctuary Project in the context of scholar advocacy – how we can transform our relationships with nonhuman animals from exploitation to respect by combining academic scholarship with animal advocacy. \nMany students are still taught that science and advocacy are two separate paths and that a scientist cannot also be an advocate. Along with many other scientists\, Dr. Marino argues that effective advocacy has to be based in science and that scientists have a duty to bring their knowledge to bear on the critically important social issues of our time. \nRegister for the conference here.\nThe conference is on Saturday January 30th.\nAll times are Pacific Standard Time.\nDr. Marino’s address is scheduled at 2:00 pm PT\nFor those wishing to attend the full conference\, it begins with opening remarks at 9:30 am PT. \nHere is the schedule. (Once again\, all times are Pacific Standard Time.)
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/the-science-of-whales-american-cetacean-society-conference/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201217T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201217T163000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20201210T220338Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210715T150914Z
UID:6948-1608219000-1608222600@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Keiko’s Legacy
DESCRIPTION:How the “Free Willy” whale inspires North America’s first whale sanctuary\nRegister for the webinar here. \nWhat is Keiko the orca’s legacy? \nKeiko\, you will recall\, had been captured in 1979 and taken from his family in the Icelandic ocean to Marineland Canada and was then sold to an amusement park in Mexico City where he was housed in a small\, shallow tank\, insufficient for an adult male orca to thrive. \nIn 1992\, Warner Brothers began filming Keiko for his part in a movie that would tell the story of Jesse\, a foster boy who befriends a captive orca named Willy and helps him escape back to the ocean. \nThe film became a major box office success\, spawning three sequels\, a television series and a video game. \nUnlike the character he was playing\, however\, Keiko himself didn’t get to leave the tank in which he was being housed at the amusement park. (His “stunt double” in the action sequences was an animatronic model.) \nHowever\, that was not the end of the story. After seeing the movies\, tens of thousands of children wrote letters pleading for the return of the real-life whale to the ocean. \nAs a result of this passionate outcry\, Keiko was indeed rescued\, and in 1996 he was brought to a specially built large pool in Oregon\, where he was treated for multiple health conditions. Two years later\, he was flown to a bay on an island off the coast of Iceland\, where he spent four years going on ocean “walks”\, learning to catch his own fish\, and introducing himself to wild orcas\, all with full-time care while preparing for a life in the open ocean. \nSeveral of us on the Whale Sanctuary team today worked together 20 years ago as part of that amazing project. Indeed\, it was led by Charles Vinick\, who is today Executive Director of the Whale Sanctuary Project. It was an invaluable and rewarding experience\, and one that informs much of our work today. \nSo\, what is Keiko’s legacy? Join Charles in an inspiring discussion about Keiko’s reintroduction to the wild and how our sanctuary in Nova Scotia will give other captive whales a chance to get “back to nature.” \nRegister for the webinar here.\nBring your questions or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Thursday\, December 17th at 3:30 pm ET\, 6:30 pm PT.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/keikos-legacy/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201119T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201119T163000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20201111T185034Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201111T190116Z
UID:6854-1605799800-1605803400@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:Chimpanzees and Dolphins: From Research Subjects to Legal Persons
DESCRIPTION:Mary Lee Jensvold\, PhD\, Primate Communication Scientist and Associate Director\, Fauna Foundation \nLori Marino\, PhD\, Neuroscientist\, President of the Whale Sanctuary Project and of The Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy. \nChimpanzees and dolphins have been used extensively in research. Ironically for chimpanzees\, it’s because of their close genetic relationship with humans\, and for dolphins it’s because of their seemingly divergent relationship from humans. \nChimpanzees are used in invasive biomedical research as well as cognitive-behavioral studies. Captive dolphins are used primarily in cognition studies. \nDrs. Marino and Jensvold have spent many years as researchers studying these large-brained\, highly social and self-aware mammals. Each of them\, independently\, became scholar-advocates for their research subjects. Each of them used their scientific skills\, expertise and experience to advocate for the protection\, welfare and rights of their subjects. Both of them have come to the conclusion that these animals do not belong in captivity and that since they don’t have the survival skills to enable them to be returned to the wild\, sanctuaries are the only ethical and practical way to give back what has been taken from them. \nIn this webinar Dr. Jensvold and Dr. Marino explore the parallel paths they have taken and discuss such topics as: \n\nHow each of them became a scholar-advocate for the animals they study;\nWhat life is like for chimpanzees and dolphins in captive research;\nHow certain chimpanzees and dolphins made a deep\, personal impression on each of them;\nTheir work to have these animals recognized as legal persons with certain fundamental rights;\nWhy sanctuaries are the ethical alternative to cages and tanks.\n\nRegister for the webinar here.\nBring your questions or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Thursday\, November 19th at 3:30 pm EDT.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/chimpanzees-and-dolphins-from-research-subjects-to-legal-persons/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201029T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201029T163000
DTSTAMP:20260501T210054
CREATED:20201023T210638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201024T184143Z
UID:6835-1603985400-1603989000@whalesanctuaryproject.org
SUMMARY:A Deep Dive at the Sanctuary Site
DESCRIPTION:Register for the webinar here. \nWhat’s multibeam sonar? How about an ADCP? Or a benthic survey? Water and sediment sampling (OK\, that’s an easy one!) Spend an hour with Charles and Amanda and you’ll know what the Whale Sanctuary team has been doing in the bay at Port Hilford. (You’ll even sound like an expert\, too!) \nTo ensure that the sanctuary can provide the quality of life that the whales deserve\, we need to know as much as possible about the bay\, the freshwater inlets and ponds nearby\, and of the lands surrounding the bay. \nSome of the things we have to understand are: \n\nthe ranges of water temperature;\nwhether there is runoff from the shore during storms and if it contains any detrimental pollution;\ndetails about currents\, tides and wave action and how these change during storms;\nwhether there are any underwater sounds that might disturb or alter whale behavior;\nand what other kinds of animals live in and around the bay.\n\nIn this webinar\, we’ll take you through some of the equipment the team has been using to gather all of this vital information. \nRegister for the webinar here.\nBring your questions or send them in advance by email.\nAnd then join us on Thursday\, October 29th at 3:30 pm EDT.
URL:https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/event/a-deep-dive-at-the-sanctuary-site/
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