Whale Burgers - Yep, You Heard Me...Help Put an End to this Practice

Amazing group fighting to end issues affecting dolphins and whales. Unfortunately, some countries still view whales as food and hence partake in whale burgers. Read below to see about taking part in these issues.

In this edition we highlight an alarming increase in the number of captive dolphin displays in Europe and how you can help in our campaign to end trade in live dolphins. We bring you shocking news of the sale of whale burgers in Norway and Japan, as well as whale and dolphin news from around the world.

************************************

DOLPHINS DYING TO ENTERTAIN

Bottlenose dolphins have recently been imported to Italy for a new marine park near Rome, despite concerns over the suffering caused to these animals in captivity.

Dolphins continue to be captured from the wild to supply the increasing demands of a growing captivity industry, putting the future of wild dolphin populations at risk and causing great suffering to individual animals. Yet, despite these damaging impacts, the number of marine parks displaying dolphins in Europe continues to grow.

We believe that Zoomarine, who are responsible for the new Italian marine park, may be breaking Italian laws surrounding the use of captive dolphins. We are fighting to end trade in live dolphins. Please join our campaign by sending a campaign e-card to the relevant authorities in Italy in protest. To send your e-card now please go to:

http://uk.wdcs.org/go/NL050805captive1

***************************************

WHALES TURNED INTO BURGERS

In a highly controversial attempt to revive flagging sales of whale meat, Norway and Japan have begun to market whale burgers.

The burgers have recently gone on sale in dozens of supermarkets throughout Norway. A restaurant chain in Japan has been selling deep-fried minke whale burgers since June.

Both countries kill whales despite an international ban on commercial whaling. Japan claims its hunt is for scientific purposes. Between them the countries propose to kill nearly 2000 whales this year and plan to greatly expand their hunts in the future.

To read more, please go to:

http://uk.wdcs.org/go/NL050805WHALING1

***********************************

GREY WHALES FACE THREAT OF TRANSPORTATION

Two scientists at the University of Lancashire in the UK are proposing to move 50 grey whales from their home in California to the Irish Sea. According to reports, the scientists plan to capture the whales and load them onto a cargo plane before flying them to the UK and releasing them off the coast of Cumbria. WDCS experts have criticised these plans, branding them neither feasible nor sensible.

To read more on this, please go to:

http://uk.wdcs.org/go/NL050805greywhal

***********************************

HOW YOU CAN HELP SAVE WHALES AND DOLPHINS

There are many ways that you can contribute to WDCS's work, and now, if you live in the UK, you can even help protect whales and dolphins when you purchase your car insurance.

By taking out your car insurance with Endsleigh, you can contribute to life-saving funds, as a contribution is made to WDCS with every policy bought.

For a free, no obligation quote, please call 0800 028 3571, or go to http://uk.wdcs.org/go/NL050805insure

Make sure you quote WDCS as a reference.

************************************

WHALE AND DOLPHIN NEWS IN BRIEF

DOLPHIN CAPTIVITY BANNED IN COSTA RICA

WDCS is pleased to be able to report that keeping dolphins and whales in captivity, and also swimming with the animals, has been banned in Costa Rica.

http://uk.wdcs.org/go/NL050805CAPTIVE2

ICELAND'S WHALE HUNT CONTINUES

Iceland’s whale hunting season began earlier in the summer, and WDCS was disappointed to learn that the whalers intended to take 39 minke whales during the 2005 season.

http://uk.wdcs.org/go/NL050805whaling2

NEW DOLPHIN SPECIES
A new dolphin species has been identified by scientists off the coast of north Australia. The animals, which have been named snubfin dolphins, were initially thought to be members of the Irrawaddy species.

http://uk.wdcs.org/go/NL050805species

NEW EXHIBITION OPENS AT WDCS WILDLIFE CENTRE
A fantastic new attraction opened last month at the WDCS Wildlife Centre in Spey Bay, Scotland. Underwater World gives visitors the opportunity to experience the watery world of the dolphin, and was opened by TV presenter and WDCS supporter Shauna Lowry.

http://uk.wdcs.org/go/NL050805WLC

WDCS GOES TO JAPAN EXPO
This month, WDCS is honored to attend the first World Exposition of the 21st Century, which is taking place at Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The Aichi Expo opened in March, with August expected to be the busiest month, with overseas visitors coming from China, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

http://uk.wdcs.org/go/NL050805WW

If you wish to contact us, please e-mail info@wdcs.org. We regret that we are not able to respond to replies to this e-mail.