Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

Full name of organisation: Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

Short version of name : WDCS

Address: Brookfield House, 38 St Paul Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 1LY

Telephone : 01249 449500

Email :info@wdcs.org

Website: http://www.wdcs.org

Aims: The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is the global voice for the protection of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and their environment

Objectives:

• to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, the continuing threats to cetaceans and their habitats
• to raise awareness of these wonderful animals and the need to protect them in their natural environment

Current work priorities: WDCS has been funding research on the bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth for 10 years and now has an office in Scotland at the mouth of the River Spey, from which it conducts research, conservation and education work. Particluar priorities include the Moray Firth dolphin space programme (DSP), evaluating the cumulative developmental impacts in and around the Moray Firth as well as expanding the organisations's outreach activities.

Charity number: 1014705

Paid staff in Scotland:
Full time: 3 (5 including positions part funded by SNH throught the Government's Knowledge Transfer Partnership)
Part time:1 (part funded by SNH)

Volunteers: over 5,600 volunteer days per year

Date Established: 1987

Members: 5,000 resident in Scotland (total supporters 50,000)

Land owned or managed in Scotland: nil

Membership of other umbrella groups: full membership of Wildlife and Countryside Link, associate membership of Wales Environment Link

Publications: P.M.Thompson, S. White, and E Dickson (2004) Presence of bottlenose dolphins reduces the probability of sighting harbour porpoises, Marine Mammal Science, 20, 322-328