The word "cetacean" is from the Latin cetus, which means "large sea creature". It refers to the group of marine mammals that includes all whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
Together we can make the world's oceans safe for whales. Learn more about WWF's work to protect whales.
Counting dolphins, critical to preserve health of South American rivers
A slow-moving canoe full of marine biologists gingerly steers through a narrow Amazon tributary. On both sides, treetops surface above a flooded forest.
Few animals on land or sea inspire such awe as whales and dolphins. Yet relatively few have suffered so severely at human hands.
Today, populations of nearly all the great whales are at depressed levels. This is the result of more than 200 years of unsustainable whaling.
Working to address all threats to cetaceans
WWF's efforts to end uncontrolled commercial whaling is part of a much broader effort to minimise human impacts on all whales and dolphins. Other major threats include marine pollution, climate change, ship strikes, and fisheries by-catch.
Photos and graphics © WWF or used with permission. Text available under a Creative Commons licence.
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