Whales and dolphins all over the world are threatened by human activities. They become entangled in fishing gear, collide with boats, and are affected by pollution from coastal development. Overfishing depletes their food source, threatening some with starvation. Some species, such as pilot whales in the Faroe Islands and bottlenose dolphins in Japan, are still slaughtered in their thousands for their meat and oil. Yet more are captured live, destined for a miserable life in the cruel dolphinarium trade. Noise, particularly the use of sonar, has been identified as a major hazard to a variety of marine species, and several mass standings of whales have been attributed to sonar use by the Navy, or during seismic surveys in the search for oil and gas deposits. Care for the Wild International (CWI) campaigns for better protection for whales and dolphins from human activities all over the world. Our efforts have already helped to reduce the risk of New Zealand's endangered Hector's and Maui's dolphins becoming entangled in fishing gear. We have also helped to prevent proposed seismic surveys in key whale and dolphin habitat in the North East of Scotland. When whales or dophins get into difficulty, a fast response is essential to their survival. if they strand on land, the animals quickly overheat and risk being crushed under their own bodyweight. Back in 2004, the generosity of our supporters enabled CWI to present Scotland's Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit (CRRU) with the UK's first dedicated marine mammal ambulance. Since then, CRRU's estimable team of marine mammal experts, veterinarians and volunteers has provided Scotland's only specialist 24 hour veterinary response outfit for sick, injured or stranded dolphins and whales and other marine casualties. Over the past decade the team has attended more than 250 whale and dolphin casualties, over 500 seal emergencies, and around 350 incidents involving seabirds and other marine wildlife. The CRRU also carries out essential research into the whales and dolphins of Scotland's Moray Firth which boasts one of the richest diversities of these animals in the whole of western Europe. Driven by directed conservation initiatives, the CRRU's research has already helped CWI to delay and prevent potentially harmful seismic surveys, and will continue to inform organizations such as the International Whaling Commission in our efforts to prevent any return to commercial whaling. All this work takes its toll, however, and the CRRU desperately needs funds in order to repair and upgrade its vehicles, boats and other essential equipment. We are therefore asking you to help us raise these much-needed funds to help more whales and dolphins in trouble. CRRU's team were called out to assist with a 6 month old minke whale who had swum into Fraserburgh harbor and couldn't find her way out. The 5m long whale was in danger of harming herself as well as becoming a potential hazard to shipping. The team cautiously took to the water but had to move away when the whale treated their boat as a new friend! After three days of careful monitoring and gentle persuasion from the CRRU team and a small flotilla of boats, this unusual visitor swam out of the harbor mouth back into the open sea, oblivious to the excitement she had caused. BM
