From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is a wildlife charity and environmental organization that dedicates itself to "conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises."

The stated aims of Society are:

To reduce, and ultimately, eliminate the continuing threats to cetaceans and their habitats.

To raise awareness of cetaceans and educate people about the need to address the continuing threats to their welfare and survival.

To prevent suffering in individual whales, dolphins and porpoises, whether in their natural environment or in captivity.

To stop the deliberate killing of whales and dolphins for commercial and so-called 'scientific' purposes.

To stop the unnecessary deaths of cetaceans from man-made threats such as pollution or entanglement in fishing nets.

To prevent the extinction of endangered species and promote the recovery of all cetacean populations.

To secure adequate protection for - and maintain the health of - all cetacean habitats.

To promote a worldwide interest in cetaceans ^[1]

These aims bring the WDCS into seemingly irreconcilable dispute with pro-whaling nations and organisations such as the High North Alliance. The WDCS is frequently critical of them (and them of it) and organises campaigns against whaling.

The WDCS is primarily a UK operation but has offices in the USA, Germany and Australia and also carries out projects in Asia and the Americas. The charity was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Chippenham in Wiltshire. Its most significant physical presence is its Moray Firth Wildlife Centre in Spey Bay on the Moray Firth in Scotland. It also runs the Dolphin and Seal Centre at North Kessock.

The Society has a travel wing, "out of the blue" holidays, an eco-tourism company that packages whale watching trips around the world. Formally speaking the two entities are separate as the WDCS is a non-commercial charity whereas out of the blue is a commercial entity that gives profits to the WDCS.

• Back in 89; Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society commised a cinematic Public information film to raise awareness on the Faroe Islands' whaling of Long-finned Pilot Whales. Narrated by Anthony Hopkins: It displays in (somewhat) great detail of what occurs during this annual hunt.
• What makes it even more disturbing is that it was given a Universal certificate by BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) since it was animated.
• It should be noted that since this advert resurfaced online, drastic changes have been made to these whale drives. Complaints have been made on this ad since it is not unbiased/unbiassed and displays negtivity over the subject.

• Classic Ad in question!

The year 2007 has been declared as (International) Year of the Dolphin - (http://www.yod2007.org) by the United Nations and UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme).

The UN Convention on Migratory Species, together with its specialized agreements on dolphin conservation ACCOBAMS and ASCOBANS and the WDCS have proposed 2007 as the Year of the Dolphin ('YOD'))

(International) Patron of the Year of the Dolphin is H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.

• WDCS homepage