WeWhale is pleased to announce a new phase of its Iberian orca conservation campaign. Working alongside Iberian Orca Guardians, Sea Shepherd France and with the support of Voluntarios Trafalgar, the organisation has officially begun photo-identification, acoustic and behavioural research on the unique Iberian orca population inhabiting the waters of southern Spain, under authorisation from Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For several years, the Save the Iberian Orca<\/strong> campaign has carried out patrols, monitoring and public awareness activities in the Strait of Gibraltar with a clear objective: to promote peaceful coexistence between sailors and Iberian orcas, improve safety at sea, and encourage a more accurate and positive understanding of this unique population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the campaign’s core activities is maintaining a regular presence at sea to document orca sightings and share relevant information with the local boating community whenever the animals are present. This helps reduce potential conflicts while promoting safer and more informed navigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alongside this work, the campaign has developed extensive educational outreach aimed at challenging the negative perception that often surrounds the Iberian orca. As a wild species that has formed part of the Strait of Gibraltar’s ecosystem and natural heritage for thousands of years, Iberian orcas should not be viewed as aggressive animals, but rather as highly intelligent marine predators with complex behaviours whose coexistence with human activities requires knowledge, understanding and appropriate management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under the official research permit granted by MITECO, WeWhale is now adding a new scientific dimension to the campaign through systematic, non-invasive field research in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of C\u00e1diz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the project’s main objectives is the photo-identification of individual orcas using the natural markings on their dorsal fins and saddle patches. This work will contribute to a better understanding of the current population size, family structures, movement patterns and habitat use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The project will also include acoustic and behavioural studies using hydrophones and standardised observation protocols to investigate vocalisations and behavioural patterns in different contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Together, these studies aim to expand the scientific knowledge available on the ecology and communication of the Iberian orca through respectful, non-invasive research methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Iberian orca (Orcinus orca<\/em>), closely associated with the migration of Atlantic bluefin tuna through the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of C\u00e1diz, is classified as Critically Endangered<\/strong> by the IUCN. With fewer than 30 individuals remaining, obtaining reliable and up-to-date scientific data is a conservation priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Janek Andre, Founder and President of WeWhale, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Protecting the Iberian orca requires a combination of science, coexistence and public outreach based on reliable evidence rather than misconceptions. Our goal is to contribute to a better-informed relationship between people and one of the world’s most threatened orca populations.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cristina Otero Sabio, Scientific Lead at WeWhale, added:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Photo-identification, acoustic monitoring and behavioural studies allow us to better understand who these animals are, how their social groups are structured and how they use their habitat. Only through consistent research and non-invasive methodologies can we generate the scientific knowledge needed to support their long-term conservation.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Vicente Cancho, skipper of WeWhale \/ Iberian Orca Guardians’ research vessel <\/strong>To\u00f1i<\/strong><\/em>, commented:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Coexistence in the Strait of Gibraltar is possible. Every season we see first-hand that information, prevention and mutual respect are essential tools for reducing conflict and promoting a safer and more responsible relationship between sailors and orcas.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fieldwork is already underway and will continue until the end of the year as part of the Save the Iberian Orca<\/strong> campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WeWhale has officially launched MITECO-authorised photo-identification, acoustic and behavioural research on the Critically Endangered Iberian orca. The project aims to improve scientific knowledge and support the long-term conservation of one of the world’s rarest orca populations.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":114,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"class_list":["post-1096","press-release","type-press-release","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wewhale.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/1096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wewhale.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wewhale.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wewhale.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wewhale.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}