World Whale and Dolphin Day: save the giants

The Whale and Dolphin Day is the best time to discuss the species protection and see what it is now and what it used to be, Says Maria Vorontsova the head of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Russia.

"July 23 is the international day of action against whale and dolphin killers who use loopholes in the legislation to circumvent the whaling ban. For example, Japan disguises whaling in the Antarctic and North Pacific as research whaling. Norway hasn’t joined the ban and feels free to hunt whales. It was recently joined by Iceland . It was also a surprise that South Korea showed interest in whaling."

Activists, media as well as Australian and New Zealand officials have condemned Seoul’s intentions. Some reporters and pseudoscientists say that river dolphins can be excluded from the endangered list as measures to conserve them are too money and effort-consuming.

Anyone can help to save the species -for example not to use plastic bags as they hardly decompose turning the oceans into huge waste deposits. Some restaurants, for example in Japan serve whale meat. Recently, the IFAW found such a restaurant in the center of Moscow. Maria Vorontsova urges people not to order such a meal and go to police if they see it on the menu.