“Let this be a historic moment when realising that whales are in danger sparks a powerful wave of action from everyone.”
If there was ever a year for this type of sad news 2020 would be it. We hear it all the time about global warming and pollution but it takes an animal to be on the verge of extinction for us to start to listen. According to scientists more than half of dolphins and porpoises species are at risk of extinction and for whales extinction is ‘real and imminent’.
The issue is so serious that more than 350 scientists and conservationists from 40 countries have signed a letter calling for global action to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises from extinction.
Marine scientist, Mark Simmonds, who works with with Humane Society International has put together the letter which has been signed by experts across the world who all agree that something needs to be done soon.
Mark told the BBC: “Let this be a historic moment when realising that whales are in danger sparks a powerful wave of action from everyone: regulators, scientists, politicians and the public to save our oceans.”
Two of these species are at “knife edge” of becoming extinct, these include the North Atlantic right whale, of which only a few hundred remain. The other animal on the verge of extinction is the vaquita, a porpoise found in the Gulf of California, which may be down to the last 10 of its kind.
This isn’t the first time these animals have found themselves in dangerous waters, a lot has been done over the years to stop hunting these incredible fish but now they are facing issues including plastic pollution, loss of habitat and prey, climate change and collisions with ships.
The greatest threat according to experts is becoming accidently captured in fishing equipment and nets, this kills an estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises a year.
You can read the full letter that scientists have signed here.
