Freedom For Dolphins - Ireland

02/06/2026

This is horrendous!!!

Eight months after inspectors flagged the lack of shade, Mediterraneo’s dolphins are still trapped under the Maltese sun.

No shade. No escape. No choice.

In the wild, dolphins can dive deep, travel miles, and escape the heat. In captivity, even the most basic needs become optional while the facility has been given the green light to continue using marine mammals as tourist attractions

👉 Read the full blog: “Still No Shade at Mediterraneo Marine Park”
(🔗 https://www.dolphinproject.org/blog/still-no-shade-at-mediterraneo-marine-park/)

01/06/2026

Another dolphin has died at SeaWorld.

Dottie, a bottlenose dolphin, died at 39 years of age after spending nearly her entire life in captivity. Born at SeaWorld Orlando in 1987, she was transferred to SeaWorld San Diego in 1999 and remained there until her death.

During her time in captivity, Dottie gave birth to four calves.

Wild bottlenose dolphins can live for decades, with some individuals reaching their 50s and even 60s. Dottie’s death is another reminder of why we should not be keeping highly intelligent, social marine mammals in artificial environments.

Dolphins should not spend their lives performing in tanks for entertainment. They belong in the ocean, free to swim, socialise, hunt, and live as nature intended.

26/05/2026

This is very encouraging news!! 💙

Bigg's (transient) orcas are experiencing a massive population boom - with a steady stream of new births and this is the latest baby!

Seen off Whidbey Island, north of Seattle, four orcas from the T124A1/ T124A2 pods had the tiny calf swimming among them, it stayed close to T124A1 Bonaparte but mother has not been confirmed.

Photo: Island Adventures Marine Naturalist Sam Murphy

25/05/2026

🪼⚠️ Jellyfish are starting to appear around the beautiful Irish beaches again — here are the most common types, how dangerous their stings are, and what to do if you get stung this summer 🌊🇮🇪

🪼 Moon Jellyfish
Usually clear with 4 purple rings inside.
- Sting: Very mild or harmless for most people.

🪼 Blue Jellyfish
Small blue-purple jellyfish often seen near shore.
- Sting: Mild to moderate.

🪼 Compass Jellyfish
Brown markings shaped like a compass pattern.
- Sting: Moderate sting, can cause burning and redness.

🪼 Barrel Jellyfish
Large white/bluish jellyfish, sometimes called “dustbin lid” jellyfish because of the size.
- Sting: Usually mild irritation.

🪼 Lion’s Mane Jellyfish ⚠️
Large reddish-brown jellyfish with long tentacles.
- Sting: Can be very painful and cause severe burning, swelling, and skin irritation.

🚑 What To Do If Stung
✅ Rinse with sea water (NOT fresh water)
✅ Carefully remove tentacles with tweezers, card or gloves
✅ Use heat if possible — hot water or a warm compress may help pain
✅ Pain relief if needed
❌ Don’t rub the area
❌ Don’t p*e on it (old myth!)
❌ Avoid ice directly on the sting

☎️ Seek medical help if there is:

* Difficulty breathing
* Chest pain
* Severe swelling
* Allergic reaction
* Stings to the face or eyes

Stay safe and enjoy the beaches this summer 🌞🌊

23/05/2026

Extremely Rare Gervais’ Beaked Whale Strands in Co. Clare

On 10 May, a whale washed up on Kilmacreedy Beach in Liscannor, Co Clare was subsequently reported to the IWDG Stranding Scheme. It was immediately clear to the IWDG that this was a species of beaked whale, though the head and beak were not clearly visible in the photographs.

A team from IWDG headquarters immediately set off to examine the animal under our Deep Diving and Rare Species Investigation Programme (DDRIP), which is supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. As the animal was female and the teeth had not erupted, species identification was a challenge on site. The skull was subsequently recovered and further examined the following day. We then reached out to international experts who confirmed the animal to be a Gervais’ beaked whale. Although this is the third stranding of this species in Ireland, there have been only a handful of records elsewhere in Europe. The first recorded specimen of Gervais’ beaked whale was found floating in the English Channel in the early 1840s.

Initial examination of the carcass revealed blood exuding from the ge***al slit, which led us to believe the animal was pregnant. We were therefore not surprised to find that she was carrying a near-term foetus measuring 194 cm and weighing 66 kg.

Extremely Rare Gervais’ Beaked Whale Strands in Co. Clare

On 10 May, a whale washed up on Kilmacreedy Beach in Liscannor, Co Clare was subsequently reported to the IWDG Stranding Scheme. It was immediately clear to the IWDG that this was a species of beaked whale, though the head and beak were not clearly visible in the photographs.

A team from IWDG headquarters immediately set off to examine the animal under our Deep Diving and Rare Species Investigation Programme (DDRIP), which is supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. As the animal was female and the teeth had not erupted, species identification was a challenge on site. The skull was subsequently recovered and further examined the following day. We then reached out to international experts who confirmed the animal to be a Gervais’ beaked whale. Although this is the third stranding of this species in Ireland, there have been only a handful of records elsewhere in Europe. The first recorded specimen of Gervais’ beaked whale was found floating in the English Channel in the early 1840s.

Initial examination of the carcass revealed blood exuding from the ge***al slit, which led us to believe the animal was pregnant. We were therefore not surprised to find that she was carrying a near-term foetus measuring 194 cm and weighing 66 kg.

See the full story on https://iwdg.ie/extremely-rare-gervais-beaked-whale-strands-in-co-clare/

Image © Simon Berrow/IWDG

22/05/2026

Great news, 🙌 🐬

“Wonderful news! Solomon Islands reinstates ban on wild dolphin captures and exports!

New Prime Minister Matthew Wale has officially signed the Fisheries (Prohibition of Export of Dolphins) Regulations 2026 into operation, reinstating the ban with immediate effect. The move reverses the previous government’s decision to repeal the decades-old ban, and it also directly addresses concerns raised after reports emerged in late 2025, that a company had applied to capture and export 50 dolphins from the Solomon Islands for the captivity industry.

The reinstatement of this prohibition is a major victory and ensures that wild dolphins in the Solomon Islands will once again be safeguarded from capture and export. A truly positive step for conservation and animal welfare”.

Wonderful news! Solomon Islands reinstates ban on wild dolphin captures and exports!

New Prime Minister Matthew Wale has officially signed the Fisheries (Prohibition of Export of Dolphins) Regulations 2026 into operation, reinstating the ban with immediate effect. The move reverses the previous government’s decision to repeal the decades-old ban, and it also directly addresses concerns raised after reports emerged in late 2025, that a company had applied to capture and export 50 dolphins from the Solomon Islands for the captivity industry.

The reinstatement of this prohibition is a major victory and ensures that wild dolphins in the Solomon Islands will once again be safeguarded from capture and export. A truly positive step for conservation and animal welfare.

The reality of captivity.
https://marineconnection.org/captivity/

12/05/2026

Another important step in the right direction.

EXIM Tours Ends Promotion of Dolphinaria Excursions.

A successful campaign in Poland has led to an important development in the movement against cetacean captivity in tourism

https://dfe.ngo/exim-tours-ends-promotion-of-dolphinaria-excursions/

09/05/2026

Happy belated 100th Birthday to Sir David Attenborough. What a legend 🐋 💙

03/05/2026

For over a month, a humpback whale nicknamed Timmy has been stranded in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Germany. After multiple failed attempts to free Timmy—who repeatedly became stuck on sandbanks and showed signs of poor health, the rescue effort was nearly called off. While scientists have suggested that the ailing whale should be left to die peacefully, a determined group of privately funded rescuers refused to give up. Now, in a dramatic last-ditch attempt, a team guided Timmy onto a specialized barge to guide him back toward the open waters of the North Sea. He has since been released, and now all we can do is truly hope he recovers fully as he makes his way back to the open ocean. 🩵🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻