FW: Tangled In Trash - A Whale Shark Rescue

Having trouble viewing this email? View it online here.

Spotting a whale shark is a dream for many divers but what happened next will amaze you!

Divemaster Daniel Zapata and the Solmar V crew were ecstatic at sighting a 35 foot whale shark – every divers dream.

Their happiness soon turned to sadness when they saw a huge line wrapped around the pregnant whale shark cutting into her skin threatening the life of the shark and her unborn baby.

Sadly, this entanglement story is more common than you might think. Marine debris chokes, tangles and kills thousands of marine animals each year. Please donate now to help make a difference.

For this distressed whale shark, Daniel Zapata and fellow divers knew they must act quickly. It was decision time.

Despite opinions that it would be too difficult and dangerous to free the whale shark, Daniel knew they had to remove the rope. "It felt so good to cut the whale shark free. I found a thinner section of the rope and cut through it. I unwrapped the rope from each side of the whale shark and finally she was free," said Daniel.

You can also make a difference - donate now to help remove, record and prevent our trash from needlessly killing marine life. Our trash in the ocean threatens the survival of some of the most iconic marine animals.

This month, you can double the power of your donation! All donations up to $10,000 are matched by ORIS this September so please donate today!

Thanks to Solmar V for sharing their rescue story with us and a big thank you to thousands of Project AWARE volunteers around the world taking action to stop the ocean's silent killer.

For the Ocean,
Alex Earl Executive Director Project AWARE
Alex Earl
Executive Director, Project AWARE Foundation

PS We cannot defeat the ocean's silent killer without your vital financial support! Thank you for giving generously today.

Project AWARE Foundation - 30151 Tomas Suite 200 Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 USA.

Comments

What is success?

Success is not giving a hoot. If you can be a 45 year old cat woman playing in front of 3000 people, totally uninhibited, then you are succeeding. Because if you are able to do that, you are in the present moment, not caring about what anybody else thinks. Not worried about their judgements or how you think you should be coming across. (ok, so I was a little worried, so not 100% successful, but I continue to strive to be free of this nonsence) When you have that presence of mind in front of animals, that is when you are succeeding.

A Lesson in Surrender

I always found the concept of surrender a cop out. Something one would do if one was too weak to take on a situation. So, when I found myself in a situation where I am unable to follow my passion in the most effective manner, I experienced great discomfort. Speaking up was immediately taken as judgement. Even though it was never intended as that. The presumed judgement resulted in defence. And the drama began, and unfolded. Chasms and vindication ruled. Frustration and finger pointing. What has this to do with animals? For those of us that work with animals, they are like kids. They sense how we feel. Our moods affect them. So, when this type of angst environment is created, the disturbance affects the creatures that we love. The lesson – stop the angst. It is not worth upsetting the animals. Nothing is. So, surrender. Not sure where this will go. But I am here righ...

cove slaughter

I am saddened and battling to understand people again. The cove dolphins are cordoned off, awaiting slaughter. Some being taken to dolphin facilities world wide. How do people stand there and do this? How do they sleep at night with those decisions in their head? Then again how do we all? Driving to a bird sanctuary yesterday I saw a cattle truck on its way to the abattoir. What is the difference? Then I saw a bearded vulture at the sanctuary. Only 320 of the left in the world and they are planning wind generators in their area – a certain death certificate. Here is a prayer – look into the eyes of an animal. Or a human. See them for the miracle that they are. Then make choices that are respectful and loving. As yourself – What would love do? I am so grateful that I am surrounded by animals. And so grateful that there is no effort required for me to care for them.

Touching Animal Souls

Search This Blog