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More news and information from WDCS in our series of E-Newsletters.

Japanese whalers hunt humpback whales in Antartica

This week the Japanese fleet departed for the largest ever whale hunt in a sanctuary designated specifically for protection from whaling. WDCS has exposed the cruelty of whale killing methods.

Japanese whalers are setting sail for the Southern Ocean Sanctuary to target up to 935 minke whales, and for the first time 50 humpback and 50 fin whales, Japan will kill more whales, from a wider range of species than it has ever killed before under the pretext of science in their Antarctic hunt.

“As well as minke and fin whales, Japanese gunners will also be targeting humpback whales which they have no experience of killing in recent years .This season is set to become a gruesome experiment in how long these large and magnificent animals may take to die,” said Philippa Brakes, WDCS Senior Biologist. Click here to read more.

WDCS campaigns to end Dolphin Assisted Therapy

WDCS calls for a total ban on Dolphin Assisted Therapy, stating that the therapy provided is ineffective and potentially harmful to both people and animals.

Dolphin assisted therapy involves close interaction with dolphins, usually through swimming with these animals in captivity or in their natural environment, and is promoted as a treatment or respite from illness and disability.

However, in a new report, titled ‘Can you put your faith in Dolphin Assisted Therapy?’, WDCS has uncovered the shocking truth behind this rapidly expanding industry. Click here to find out more.

Stop Marine Trash!

An estimated one million birds and 100,000 marine mammals including dolphins, whales and seals die each year due to ingestion of, and entanglement in marine debris.

WDCS conducts trash surveys in Stellwagen Bank each year to document the amount of rubbish and retrieve as much of it as possible. To help stop more marine trash from harming whales and other marine mammals in our local waters, we also started a recycling program on board the Captain John and Son whale watch boats.

Over the Summer of 2007, a total of 5,528 items of aluminum, glass and plastic were recycled. Some of these items could have ended up in the feeding grounds of our adopted whales. Recycling not only reuses raw materials to make new objects, it also ensures that those materials do not find their way into the ocean as litter!

For more information about how you can recycle to help stop marine trash please go to www.wdcsgoesgreen.org

WDCS helps protect the North Atlantic right whale

This week the world’s leading experts met to coordinate their efforts to save the North Atlantic right whale from extinction.

Fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales remain and the population is not recovering. On average only 11 calves are born per year, this is only 1/3 of the expected birth rate and less than the present annual death rate. Mortality from ship-strikes and fishing-gear entanglements is driving this species toward extinction. Right Whale coastal habitat along the eastern U.S. and Canada is heavily industrialized and under increasing negative pressures from human activities.

Education is key to raising awareness of this critically endangered species. As chair of the Education Committee, WDCS was able to provide an update of educational resources to the organizations who study and conserve these rare whales. Click here to find out more

Kind Regards,

WDCS (NA)
http://www.whales.org

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WDCS is the global voice for the protection of whales, dolphins and their environment.