World Whale and Dolphin Day is
celebrated annually on July 23.
This holiday was established in 1986, when the ban on whaling,
introduced on July 23, 1982 by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), came
into effect after 200 years of merciless extermination of whales. The ban is
still in effect today and means that whale hunting and trade in whale
meat are prohibited worldwide.
However, whaling is not the only threat to these animals. Another
major factor in the disappearance of whales, dolphins and other marine mammals
is their capture for dolphinariums, oceanariums and circuses.
In addition, a serious threat to marine mammals is the garbage
that people pollute the seas and oceans with in abundance: plastic, glass,
metal, fishing gear, etc. Animals get entangled in garbage, get injured, or
accidentally eat garbage and damage their digestive organs.
Therefore, today is considered a day of protection not only for
whales, but for all marine mammals.
Every year on this day, various conservation groups and
organizations hold events and demonstrations in defense of whales and other
marine mammals. Often, environmentalists unite and dedicate this day to the
protection of one unique species that is in mortal danger or extinction.
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