History

Our roots go back to 1981 when Dr. Jim Darling founded the West Coast Whale Research Foundation (WCWRF) to study whales. WCWRF contributed significantly to the first scientific descriptions of gray, humpback and killer whales in British Columbia and the North Pacific, and through education programs. Several prominent cetacean scientists operating in British Columbia today have their roots in the WCWRF. In 2003, Dr. Rob Butler led the transition of WCWRF to Pacific WildLife Foundation to reflect a new and wider role, and served as President until 2021 when he became an Honorary Director. Dr. Darling, Ian Semple and Kate Keough from WCWRF continue to serve Pacific WildLife.