A Whale of A Week, he world’s first open water sanctuary for beluga whales, Female Humpback Whales, the North Atlantic right whale & Charlotte Crosby explains why Iceland is still whaling!

In Defense of Animals
Captive Belugas Finally Have a Sanctuary Option! The world's first seaside sanctuary for beluga whales is set to open in March of this year in a move that could ultimately turn the tide for captive cetaceans around the world. READ MORE

Here in our backyard, we have one of the oceans most magnificent animals - the North Atlantic right whale.
Using research to help one of Earth’s most endangered whales
After slowly recovering from centuries of rampant whaling, the right whale is now facing a crisis that could cause the species’ extinction in as few as twenty years.

IDAW has seen the impacts firsthand.

As IFAW’s Necropsy Coordinator, part of my job is to conduct necropsies (animal autopsies) on dead marine mammals and use the data and many samples collected to determine why these animals are dying.

When the phone rings and I hear a right whale carcass has been found, my heart sinks particularly low. These animals are critically endangered. With an estimated 411 right whales alive today, every individual matters.

On the scene, we often see signs of blunt force trauma, deep lacerations across the body, or flippers wrapped in heavy rope. These whales are not dying of old age. The symptoms point to two of the biggest threats facing the species: collisions with vessels and rope entanglement from commercial fishing gear.

Living in the most industrialized stretch of ocean on Earth, every day is a battle for survival for the right whale. With less than 100 breeding females left, the population is on the brink of extinction. Everything is stacked against the right whale – but we can solve the crisis.

See how we’re helping save right whales from their biggest threats.

We share our beautiful Eastern coast with these animals. But most people might not even know they exist until it is too late. It’s our duty to address the impacts of our actions and unite to save the right whale. I hope you will join us in being part of the solution.

Don Lichterman
Sunset Corporation of America (SCA)
Sunset TV
Sunset Television Network
Sustainable Action Network (SAN)