Category: Help a species: Whales & Dolphins

1. Beluga Whales Little Gray and Little White make their move!

   Posted on 8:00pm Saturday 28th May 2022

   This blog was first published on 20 June 2019 and then again with John Bishop's Great Whale Rescue programme in October 2020  - and now there's more news! Hot on the news that the Greeks have created the world’s first dolphin sanctuary, two Beluga Whales from an aquarium in Shanghai have just arrived in Iceland 6,000 miles away to go to a whale sanctuary there. The whales – Little Grey & Little White – are 12 years old.  They’ve been in captivity since they were about 2 years old and performed in font of crowds as “entertainment”.  The British Firm that runs the aquarium – Merlin Entertainment – bought the Changfeng Ocean World Zoo in 2012.  And it started to look for a home for Little Grey & Little White. Head of the British Conservation Charity, Sea Life Trust, explained that preparations have been on-going for about 18 months to prepare the whales for their journey. They travelled by plane on a Cargolux freighter to Iceland, then, truck and a ferry from the mainland to the island where they will live.  Teams monoitored the whales to ensure they were safe and comfortable during the flight.  A Cargolux engineer and a team of global veterinary experts with experience in transporting marine mammals were also on board to check on the whales’ welfare. Their new home is the world’s first open water Beluga sanctuary – it will provide a more natural sub-Arctic environment for them, with wilder habitat.  The bay will be protected to protect the two female whites as it is thought they won’t survive on their own in the wild.  The Sanctuary is in a natural and beautiful sea inlet, in Klettsvik Bay.  There’s a landside care facility, and a visitor centre minutes away – so you can visit! The sanctuary was created in partnership with Whale and Dolphin Conservation.  It’s run by the SEA LIFE Trust with a donation from Merlin Entertainments.    Scientists are going to study Little Grey & Little White to see how they adapt to their new natural home.  And depending on how they get on, the sanctuary could become home to other Belugas as well. So here's the update:  May 2022 Little White and Little Gray are released into an open sea sanctuary, where they can adapt and explore.  They will then be released further into the open sea - and monitored to ensure they can live in peace. Find out more about the two Beluga Whales here Good luck in your new home, Little Grey & Little White and a big thank you to Cargolux Airlines for your help and role in moving Little Grey & Little White to sanctuary.   And if you're in the UK, why not check out The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, which rescues and rehabilitates grey seals pup from around the Cornish Coastline.

    

2. Stop this oil refinery from operating on St Croix in the US Virgin Islands

   Posted on 9:00am Saturday 17th Apr 2021

   Care2.com have a petition about an enormous oil refinery on St Croix in the US Virgin Islands.

   It has laid dormant for nearly years – it was forced to shut down after committing dangerous environmental breaches.

   Donald Trump re-opened it in his last weeks of office -     his full plan went into effect on 4 February 2021. 

   Three days later, Care2.com say the sky rained oil.

   A vapour cloud released by the refinery went up into the air, glided to the community of Clifton Hill which is nearby, filled homes, gardens and toys – and then it burst, a mixture of petroleum and water covering cars, toys, and more with oil.

   This was over two months ago.

   Residents say the oil is still stuck to food sources such as avocado and fruit.  It cannot be washed out.
   
   

   
   

   An oil refinery rained petroleum on wildlife, people, and homes. Shut down this foul plant, now!

    

   The island is surrounded by marine life – coral reefs, sharks and whales.   If the oil keeps going into the soil and water around the island, it could poison people and animals for years to come.

   There is a huge human rights issue as well.

   Care2.com say that most of the residents are black, descendants of Africans who were enslaved and brought to work on sugar and cotton plantations.

   The Biden administration has already started an investigation and revoked a number of permits.

   But the plant is still open.

   Please tell the Biden administration to shut this toxic oil refinery down.   Force its operators to clean up their pollution.
   
   

   Please sign here

    

3. Please see this video from Gravitas - how nature is reclaiming its spaces due to the Coronavirus

   Posted on 2:00pm Friday 10th Apr 2020

   Sometimes you see something on the internet or on television that really hits you hard and makes a point extremely well. I saw this video, this afternoon, and I wanted to share it with you.  Please share it with everyone you can. The ultimate message is that we SHARE this planet.  It demonstrates how dominant the human race has become - and how selfish.   I am not going to tell you anymore about it - please just watch it for yourself.   Here it is: Thank you, Gravitas. Please vow to make a difference today.  Find out how to reduce your impact on the earth's resources here.

4. Slipped up with plastic? Donate your guilt!

   Posted on 5:00pm Wednesday 28th Aug 2019

   So with the best will in the world, there will be times when we forget to bring along a re-usable bag, or we need to buy a plastic bottle of water. And we think, “Oh dear, I shouldn’t have done that.  I must be more organised next time,” or “Oh dear, that’s one more bottle to add to the millions that will end up in a whale’s stomach…” or “I must do better next time” or “Oh well, it doesn’t happen very often”  etc etc Well, the Marine Conservation Society have come up with a way to help us all overcome those moments of guilt! Donate your guilt to the Marine Conservation Society!!  Yes, you can now donate your guilt and help the MCS continue its work to stem the plastic tide. You can donate in different ways: Donate money Donate your time – clean up a local beach, for instance Donate a share online with this idea – let’s spread it about! Remember, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse Repurpose, Recycle.  I repurpose all the water we don’t use e.g. in water glasses – it goes straight onto the garden.  Donations will help the MCS organise more beach cleans and run more campaigns to encourage the UK government to bring in vital legislation.  It will also help them hold companies, industry and governments to account. Find out more here Make a donation here

    

    

5. Great news for dolphins in Greece

   Posted on 9:00pm Wednesday 19th Jun 2019

   A Greek conservation group has created the world’s first dolphin sanctuary!  The  Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation created it for dolphins who have been rescued from captivity.    It’s on the island of Lipsi, south of Samos in the eastern Aegean.  The hope is that these rescued dolphins will have a safe place to live out their lives, and also end their exploitation in zoos and marinas.  They say there are nearly 3,000 dolphins in captivity around the world and hope that by providing this sanctuary, they will help change worldwide perception of animals in captivity. It is hoped that the knowledge gained by helping these dolphins can be used by scientists around the world.  The Institute exists to defend nature.  It has over 20  years research and now it’s taken action to create this first dolphin sanctuary. You can help by making a donation The Institute aims to defend the biodiversity of Greek seas and islands, and also the north eastern Mediterranean.