Whalewatch Campaign
The MSPCA-Angell has joined forces with WSPA and more than 140 other organizations in an international campaign against whaling.
More than 55 countries are involved in the "Whalewatch" effort. The MSPCA and the World Society for the Protection of Animals have been international partners since 1981 when WSPA was first formed.
Troubled Waters
The Whalewatch campaign was launched following the release of a new report called "Troubled Waters," which chronicles the inhumane treatment of whales in both commercial and scientific operations.
Although commercial whaling has been banned since 1986, more than 20,000 whales have been killed since then. More than 1,400 whales are expected to die this year alone in Norway, Japan and Iceland.
In 2002-2003, Japan reported that almost 60 percent of its quota of whales failed to die instantaneously. Some whales can take over an hour to die after being hit by grenade-tipped harpoons, according to WSPA.
A CD of the Troubled Waters report includes a foreword by naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough. He describes how the report contains "hard scientific dispassionate evidence that there is no humane way to kill a whale at sea."
For more information about WSPA or Troubled Waters go to http://www.wspa.org.uk/.
