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About the Whale Sanctuary Project
Our Mission
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We work to transform the way people relate to whales and dolphins by bringing an end to their exploitation and by creating seaside sanctuaries, assisting with international marine mammal rescues, and advancing whale and dolphin science.
Subscribe to our news updates to stay informed about the progress of the mission.
And make a donation to hasten the time when all captive whales have been retired to sanctuaries.
Thank you for being part of the Whale Sanctuary Project
Our Vision
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Our vision is of a world in which all cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are treated with respect and are no longer confined to concrete tanks in entertainment parks and aquariums.
Public opinion has turned against keeping whales and dolphins in captivity.
There are already sanctuaries for many land animals who are being retired from zoos and circuses. Now is the time to provide them for whales and dolphins.
See how legislative work in Parliament in Canada and in the U.S. Congress is paving the way to retire captive whales to sanctuaries.
Creating the Sanctuary
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With your help, we are creating a gold-standard coastal sanctuary in Port Hilford Bay, Nova Scotia, where cetaceans (whales and dolphins) can live in an environment that maximizes well-being and autonomy and is as close as possible to their natural habitat. It is being designed to serve as a model for many more that can then be built all over the world in the coming years.
A complete timeline of our work to date on establishing the sanctuary is also available.
Go to the Timeline page.
For some of the latest updates on the creation of the sanctuary, check out our Winter 2022/3 Newsletter.
And check out our most recent “Ask Us Anything” webinar, in which Dr. Lori Marino, President, and Charles Vinick, Executive Director, discuss progress at the sanctuary site in Nova Scotia.
Whale Aid Programs
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Whale Aid, a program of the Whale Sanctuary Project, provides aid to captive and free-ranging cetaceans in need through hands-on assistance and leadership, shared expertise and education.
Whale Aid is dedicated to protecting each cetacean’s ability to thrive in a natural habitat. It is a global outreach to organizations that need assistance in their work, whether on behalf of captive whales or those who are free ranging.
The photo is from Whale Aid Russia, the largest whale rescue program in history.
The Team
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The Whale Sanctuary team comprises experts from around the world in fields ranging from veterinary care to transport to construction and engineering.
Charles Vinick, our executive director, is renowned for his work in returning the orca Keiko from a theme park in Mexico City to his home in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Keiko had become famous from the “Free Willy” films.
In this conversation, Charles talks with Jeff Foster, Keiko’s Director of Field Operations & Research, about what it was like returning the famous whale to his natural habitat, and how that experience informs their work for the Whale Sanctuary Project.
The Science
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Intelligence, cognition and emotion in whales and dolphins; how these cetaceans fare in captivity; what the scientific evidence says about the claims made by the captivity industry regarding the educational value of displaying these animals in concrete tanks; and more.
Dr. Lori Marino, our president, is a neuroscientist who is internationally known for her work on the evolution of the brain and intelligence in dolphins, whales, primates and farmed animals.
She co-authored a ground-breaking study offering the first conclusive evidence for mirror self-recognition in bottlenose dolphins, after which she decided against further research with captive animals.
Learn more about intelligence cognition and emotion in cetaceans here.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When will the sanctuary be ready to receive whales from marine entertainment parks and aquariums? How much it cost? Can captive whales simply be returned to the open ocean? How can I be involved? And many more.
If you have a question about the work of the Whale Sanctuary Project, you can post it on our Facebook page or write to us at [email protected].
Incorporation & Finances
The Whale Sanctuary Project is incorporated as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our tax ID EIN is 81-2276219.
Our annual IRS Form 990 can be viewed, along with other information about the organization and our work, at Candid/Guidestar, which recognizes the Whale Sanctuary Project with a Platinum Seal of Transparency.