Whales are the largest species of exclusively aquatic mammals, members of the order Cetacea, which also includes dolphins and porpoises. They include the largest known animals to have ever existed.
The term whale is ambiguous: it can refer to all cetaceans, to just the larger ones, or only to members of particular families within the order Cetacea. The last definition is the one followed here. Whales are those cetaceans which are neither dolphins (i.e. members of the families Delphinidae or Platanistoidea) nor porpoises. This can lead to some confusion because Orcas ("Killer Whales") and Pilot Whales have "whale" in their name, but they are dolphins for the purpose of classification.
More on [ Whale ]
Cetacea :: Mammalia
Marine Mammals :: Mammals
Cetaceans :: Marine Mammals
Hunting and Shooting :: Animal Rights

Research Center - Monitors the types of species that come to the area and studies their feeding, migration and breeding habits.
Meta Description: [ Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center is located in Cape May, New Jersey, bordering an entrance to the Garden State Parkway and with its 75 foot catamaran,has the best whale sighting record in New Jersey. 100% money back guarantee if no sightings ]
Airlines refuse to carry Norway's whale exports - Greenpeace secures international blockade of blubber trade as Oslo prepares to resume hunting endangered species in defiance of ban.
Meta Description: [ Some 21 airlines, including British Airways, have pledged not to transport blubber or meat from whales as Greenpeace attempts to stop Norway breaking a 15-year ban on exports. ]
Alaska Whales - Provides information on research and general information about humpback whales, gray whales, killer whales, northern right whales, bowhead whales, and minke whales.
Meta Description: [ Alaska Whales - information about humpback whales, gray whales, killer whales (orca), northern right whales, bowhead whales, and minke whales; NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Regional Office ]
American Cetacean Society - The oldest whale conservation group in the world devoted to education in the field of cetacean research and includes whale adventures, fact sheets, newsletters, journals, and adoption programs.
Meta Description: [ The American Cetacean Society; whale and dolphin conservation, education, and research from the oldest cetacean conservation group in the world. ]
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Atlantic Whale Foundation - Includes information on the world's whales, dolphins, and porpoises and projects that support the preservation of the species.
Meta Description: [ Atlantic Whale Foundation - Here you'll find everything on the world's whales, dolphins and porpoises and projects which support them all on one site ]
Blue Voice - Working to save dolphin and whale species and offers the latest up-to-date news on whales, and dolphins.
Meta Description: [ BlueVoice.org, saves dolphins and whales from hunting, captivity and toxic chemicals, exposes mercury and PCB contamination in oceans and human food chain, explores dolphin communication. ]
Brazil's First Whale Sanctuary - An editorial on Brazil approving its first whale sanctuary.
Center for Biological Diversity - Killer Whale - Offers information on the petition filed to list Puget Sound killer whales as an endangered species.
Center for Coastal Studies - Educating in the coastal and marine environments, humpback whales, right whales, cape cod, and Stellwagen Bank, includes whale rescue, and research.
Meta Description: [ Marine biology and geology research and education, large whale rescue and conservation. ]
Center for Oceanic Research and Education - An organization dedicated to the study and conservation of cetaceans in their marine habitat includes research trips, adoption, membership, links, and photos.
Center for Whale Research - Founded to promote, conduct, and support benign research on cetaceans.
Center for Whale Research: Orcas - Provides information on research, videos, sounds, and field logistics.
Meta Description: [ Center for Whale Research Eco Adventures with Orcas ]
Cetacean Freedom Network - Listing of whales and dolphins who have died in captivity. Facts and myths of the captive industry. What steps people can take to help end cetacean captivity.
Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit - Dedicated to the understanding, welfare, and protection of cetaceans. Includes rescue network, educational work, research activities, and how you can help.
Meta Description: [ The Cetacean Research (& Rescue) Unit, Dolphins & Whales of the Moray Firth ]
Cetacean Society International home page - Works for the protection of cetaceans worldwide.
Meta Description: [ Dedicated to the preservation and protection of cetaceans ]
Conservation and Development in the Gray Whale Lagoons - Report identifies activities that could have a negative impact on two gray whale habitats, Laguna San Ignacio and Bahia Magdalena.
Fundación Cethus - A non-government, non-profit organization, with objectives fixed on investigation, divulgation and conservation of cetaceans. Site is available in both English and Spanish.
Meta Description: [ FW MX FP HTML, Organización No Gubernamental, sin fines de lucro, que tiene como objetivo principal la investigación, divulgación y conservación de los cetáceos - Non government and non profit organization, with objectives fixed on investigation, divulgation and conservation of cetaceans. ]
Gemini Properties: Save the Whales - Take action now to save the whales and dolphins from the Naval use of Low Frequency Active Sonar. Includes information on how to help, petition and links.
Meta Description: [ Costa Rica Vacation Home Rental in Manuel Antonio, Quepos. Luxury 4 bedroom 3 bath House, Casa, Villa for weekly and monthly rent on the Pacific ocean. ]
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Greenpeace Global Whale Sanctuary Petition - Calls for the creation of a global whale sanctuary to help put an end to commercial whaling.
Greenpeace Whales Campaign - Information about whale species, whaling, environmental threats, sanctuaries, and whale watching plus efforts to end commercial whaling.
Meta Description: [ Overexploit, cheat, deplete. The cycle of greed behind the global whaling industry drove one whale population after another toward oblivion. It is still not known if some species will ever recover, even after decades of protection. ]
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary - This sanctuary was established to protect the humpback whales. Includes news and events, weather, education, and research.
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Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust - Aims to educate the public about whales and dolphins, includes information on research, education, and conservation.
International Marine Mammal Project - Works to make oceans safe for marine mammals worldwide by including take-action alerts, campaigns, and membership.
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group - Dedicated to the conservation, research and better understanding of whales. Includes cetacean news, sightings, stranding news, events, and research.
Marine Mammal Research and Education - Seeking new heights in marine mammal research, education, and conservation by informing the public of upwelling, and membership.
Meta Description: [ Pacific Cetacean Group; inspire conservation of marine mammals and other marine life through scientific research, education, and the arts. ]
Marine Mammal Stranding Center - Teaches what to do when you find a stranded whale, as well as information on strandings.
Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) - Rescues and releases marine mammals and sea turtles.
Meta Description: [ Dedicated to rescue and release of marine mammals and sea turtles. ]
North Gulf Oceanic Society - A non-profit organization that specializes in marine mammal research and conservation, and education in Alaska.
NRDC- Whales and Marine Animals - Includes information on the threats to whales, and on various NRDC-led campaigns to protect them and their natural habitats.
Meta Description: [ NRDC fights to protect threatened and endangered species, to restore their habitats, and to bring their populations back to sustainable levels, NRDC fights to protect threatened and endangered species, to restore their habitats, and to bring their populations back to sustainable levels ]
NYTimes.com - Angry Japan Lashes Out After Defeat on Whaling - During a five-day meeting of the International Whaling Commission, the Japanese delegation did not get its way and retaliated by working to deny Arctic natives in Alaska and Russia their traditional whale-hunting quotas. [Requires free NYTimes.com registration to view.]
Ocean Alliance - Dedicated to the conservation of whales and their ocean environment, includes useful information on whales and research.
Meta Description: [ The Ocean Alliance is dedicated to the conservation of whales and their ocean enviroment through research and education. ]
Ocean Defense International - A nonprofit organization formed to combat the destruction of the oceans and its inhabitants.
Oceanic Society and Oceanic Society Expeditions - Conducts whale watch, participatory research projects, and natural history expeditions for the public.
Meta Description: [ Oceanic Society Expeditions conducts Whale Watch, participatory Research Projects and Natural History Expeditions for the public. Explore the natural world while contributing to its Preservation. ]
OrcaLab - Its purpose is long-term study of the orcas which inhabit this area, and evaluation of human impacts on them.
Meta Description: [ OrcaLab ]
Orrca - Includes whale rescue and research in Australia.
Meta Description: [ ORRCA - An all volunteer organisation - dedicated to the rescue, research and welfare of Cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), seals, sea lions and dugongs in Australia. ]
Protect Whales from Captivity and Hunting - Non-profit societies dedicated to save whales and marine animals from captivity and hunting.
Safe Passing - Includes a detailed mission to stop the Makah whale hunt and other whale saving missions.
Save The Whales - Includes action alerts, Makah updates, research, adopt a whale, captivity, and marine mammal inventory.
Meta Description: [ Help Save All Marine Mammals at Save the Whales. Whales, Dolphins, Save Whales, Whale Songs, Whale Issues, Threats to Whales, Whaling, Marine Mammals, Otters, Manatees, Whale Gifts, Whale TShirts, Keiko, Whale Puzzles, Whale Notecards, Adopt A Whale. ]
Saving The Whales - Includes information on how to save the whales, public comments page, and a forum. The full story of Makah hunting, late breaking news, and recent news.
Silver Bank Whale Sanctuary - Provides information on permits, applying for permits, whale watching regulations, whale watching and links for Marine Mammal Sanctuary Silver Banks.
Meta Description: [ Silver Bank whale sanctuary, Dominican Republic; courting, mating and calving area for humpback whales; only sanctuary to permit swimming with whales. ]
SoundNet - The Newsletter of The Oceania Project - Includes current news, action alerts, information and research.
Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network - Dedicated to understanding and conserving marine mammals. Provides information on research, education, mammal rescue, rehabilitation, and release.
Meta Description: [ Dedicated to understanding and conserving marine mammals through rescue and release, research and education ]
The Dolphin Institute - Dedicated to dolphins and whales through education, research, and conservation, includes scientific papers, research, and testimonials.
Meta Description: [ The Dolphin Institute and the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory: Dedicated to Dolphins and Whales through Education, Research, and Conservation. Over 20 years Dolphin Research and Humpback Whale Research, based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Browse our extensive educational area to learn about marine m... ]
The Marine Connection - Includes rescues, latest news, campaigns, special events, adoption, education, and information.
Meta Description: [ The Marine Connection is an international London basedcharity, committed to the care and protection of dolphins and whales worldwide. ]
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society - Provides information about how you can help whales, projects and campaigns, publications, sightings and strandings, species guide, and whale watching.
Meta Description: [ The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is the leading international charity dedicated solely to the worldwide conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans). WDCS was established in 1987 and now has over 70000 supporters all around the world. WDCS has alread... ]
The Whaleman Foundation - Provides information on how to help stop the gray whale hunt, Japanese whaling, and deadly sonar.
Tursiops.org - Site providing cetacean related news and forums.
US Citizens Against Whaling - Provides information about the illegal whaling of gray whales.
Welcome to Wild Whales - Is a resource web site for the cetaceans. It focuses on humpback and killer whale research, as well as conservation and habitat stewardship.
Meta Description: [ Wildwhales is a resource web site for the cetaceans, otherwise known as whales, dolphins, and porpoises, of British Columbia. It focuses on humpback and killer whale research, conservation and habitat stewardship. This site is home to the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network ]
Whale Center Of New England - Includes information on humpback whales, adopt a whale, photos, research, education, conservation, right whales, and other endangered cetacean species.
Meta Description: [ Marine mammal and habitat research, education and conservation, especially of humpback whales, in North Atlantic waters. ]
Whale Rescue Team - Dedicated to the rescue and protection of marine mammals. Includes information on projects and campaigns. California, USA.
Meta Description: [ The Whale Rescue Team: Dedicated to the protection and rescue of marine wildlife. ]
Whales Alive - A non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and celebration of whales, includes how you can help, conservation issues, photographs, and whale watching information.
Whales Online - Provides information, news, and highlights of research work on the conservation of whales, dolphins and porpoises in the Southern Hemisphere.
Meta Description: [ Whales-online believes individuals have the power to transform our world. Whales-online provides stimulating and informative analysis of the issues that affect whales, dolphins and porpoises and to promote dialogue and link individuals with experts around the world. ]
World Whale Police - Mission is to educate the public about the necessity for marine mammal protection and to raise public awareness of safety through lectures, includes information on stopping the whale hunt.
Yaqu Pachu Project: Humpback Whales - Provides information on the conservation of South American Aquatic Mammals, organization news and project information on work to protect whales from pollution, fisherman, and disease. Available in German, Spanish, and English.
Meta Description: [ Our project for the protection of Humpback Whales in one of their breeding-grounds near the La Plata island in Ecuador. ]
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