Dear friend

Did you know that one quarter of all whale and dolphin species are in danger of extinction?

If we care about these animals and if we truly want to save them, we have to save their habitat, their homes in the sea.

That’s why we’re calling for governments around the world to create marine protected areas, safe-havens where whales and dolphins can thrive. We are aiming for the creation of 12 large new marine protected areas by 2012.

You can help by signing our petition urging governments to act.

The world’s oceans occupy nearly three times the surface area of the land, but have far less protection: only 0.01% is designated as a protected area. This has to change if we want to ensure a future for marine wildlife.

In many places where endangered whales and dolphins feed, breed and take shelter, there is widespread entanglement in fishing nets, loud noise and other pollution, as well as lack of food due to over-fishing.

Our new campaign launches this week at the start of one of the world’s most daring tests of endurance, the nine-month-long Volvo Ocean Race. WDCS has forged a partnership with Team Russia, who will carry our ‘homes for whales’ message around the world.

Please join us in what promises to be an exciting ocean adventure and an important campaign by signing our petition today and telling your friends and family about it. Go to www.whales.org.

Thank you.

Erich Hoyt
WDCS Senior Research Fellow and Global Marine Protected Area Campaign Leader