(Editor’s note: The Whale Museum was founded in 1976 as the Moclips Cetological Society. In 1992, the name was officially changed to The Whale Museum and registered with the Washington’s Secretary of State. At that time, Moclips Cetological Society ceased to exist as an organization. In 2014, the old name was registered by anew group. The Whale Museum has no affiliation with the current/new Moclips Cetological Society.)

Friday Harbor whale expert Ken Balcomb’s Moclips Cetological Society received a corporate donation from Pornhub.com, in honor of National Whale Day this past February.

Pornhub promised one cent for every 2,000 videos played across its website to the group, which added up to around $28,000. Balcomb says it might be controversial, but isn’t concerned because everything seems to be controversial these days. He said that the Moclips Cetological Society mostly helps with beach cleanups and basic marine life protection programs.

The Seattle P-I published these excerpts from a Pornhub press release on Feb. 10.

“Humans are not the only mammals that engage in sexual activities for reasons other than procreation,” said Balcomb. “Cetaceans – whales, dolphins and porpoises – are very sexual animals and have evolved a variety of fascinating social life histories beyond simple procreation. Although our primary goal is to ensure effective conservation for cetacean species, our academic goal is to educate the public about their social and biological lifestyles that readers might find very interesting.”

Pornhub stressed that it is imperative that the environmental community continues to fight for the declining whale population. Pornhub says that whales play a crucial role in environmental health and are key to furthering our understand of marine mammals.

“Here at Pornhub, we care deeply about the environment and the preservation of wildlife,” said Corey Price, vice president Pornhub. “We’re now asking our community turn their attention to – and help save – a different type of blowhole, one that belongs to a majestic species that once swelled in numbers throughout the oceans before commercial industries initiated their demise.”