Whale of a time

Family film Big Miracle opens in the UK this week, and consequently, a wave of conservation awareness is on the horizon. Big Miracle tells the real life story of a family of grey whales trapped under the ice in Alaska in the 1980s and the WDCS (Whale and Dolphin Conservation Charity) is hoping that the film, starring Drew Barrymore and Kristen Bell, will help raise the profile of national and global wildlife efforts regarding these water dwelling mammals. 

Under threat today due to more than just ice, man made hazards such as hunting and intensive fishing practices detrimental to the natural habitat and breeding grounds of whales and dolphins, are just some of the issues that the WDCS deals with on a day to day basis. The charity's UK branch is proactive in the rescue and protection of beached whales, such as this pilot whale (above) stranded off the coast of Scotland last summer, highlighting the welfare of whales in captivity and a number of political campaigns to ensure that development off UK coastlines takes into account marine life.

They also work in partnership with the Scottish Heritage fund to provide children's education via their Wildlife Centres, in addition to providing a comprehensive Kids Zone section on their website. Currently children are being asked to take part in the origami challenge, helping the charity create a huge petition made up of origami whales and dolphins as a protest against captivity in Europe, and children can also adopt their very own whale by visiting http://adoptawhale.wdcs.org/   

 

If you have a few minutes spare this week, follow the charity @WHALES_org on Twitter and help spread the word, or visit the Facebook Page here