Dolphins - An Endangered Species

The circumnavigator, documentary filmmaker and animal welfare activist Rollo Gebhard († 2013) founded the Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine e.V. (GRD) in 1991 to protect wild dolphins and whales as well as their habitats. He introduced the SAFE control programme for dolphin safe tuna in Germany, which now involves over 95% of tuna traders. SAFE prohibits the use of "dolphin-killing" nets and thus prevents the death of thousands of whales and dolphins. It is the most comprehensive dolphin conservation project in the world. The GRD controls German importers and dealers and publishes a positive list.

The GRD also offers sponsorships for dolphins in Croatia, Peru, Dominica and La Gomera. The sponsorship contribution, which is regarded as a donation, is used to finance conservation projects there. As proof of the sponsorship there is a certificate with the name of the patron, together with a photo of the sponsored dolphin, as well as background information on the protection projects and the GRD association journal "Delphinpost" - perhaps also as an extraordinary gift for someone.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was officially established in 1981 in the State of Oregon, USA. The original mission of both organizations was to protect marine mammals. Later, Sea Shepherd extended its mission to all marine wildlife. In 2003, Sea Shepherd became active against dolphin hunting in Taiji and came to the attention of the general public.

After several weeks of crew members hiding in the cliffs around the bay, they could secretly film and photograph fishermen slaughtering dolphins in the bay on October 6, 2003. The shocking images showing the blood-colored water of the Killer Bay of Taiji triggered loud protests worldwide. Since then, opponents of dolphin hunting and reporters travel to Taiji each September 1st to report on the start of the six-month hunting season. In 2010, the annual number of dolphins killed was halved due to the constant presence of the Cove Guardians of Sea Shepard, but the slaughter in Taiji Bay sadly continues to this day.

YAQU PACHA has been active in South America since 1992 to help both animals and local people. Through core projects in Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Peru, YAQU PACHA is making an important contribution to wildlife protection in cooperation with international and local partners. The protection of La Plata Dolphins, South America's most endangered dolphin species, for example, has been one of the society's core tasks since 1996. YAQU PACHA helps to conduct dolphin population estimates, determination of by-catch figures and implementation of protective measures in the entire habitat of this dolphin species.

Supported by boot Düsseldorf

With the words "Exactly the one I want" the former boot project manager Abdul-Rahman Adib already decided years ago to sponsor the endangered dolphin species 'Lissodelphis peronii'. boot Düsseldorf supports activities of the Yaqu Pacha (Indian: "water world") association, whose volunteers have been working for the endangered marine mammals for years. With actions such as a large touring exhibition on the DEADLINE campaign, in which all 45 species of dolphins were faithfully replicated in various cities, the association wants to show what each individual can do in relation to the increasing threat to the seas.