Save the Whales is a non-profit organization based in Seaside, California.
It is dedicated to saving whales from several threats in the contemporary world including naval testing, pollution, and whaling.
It’s main purpose is to educate children and adults about the plight of whales today.
It’s founder is Maris Sidenstecker II.
What Save the Whales Does
Save the Whales is primarily an educational organization.
It emphasizes education because the goal of saving the whales is inter-generational.
Today, the foundation’s instructors are marine biologists, environmental researchers, and educators.
The staff includes Catalina Island Marine Institute instructors and assistant program directors, Los Angeles Unified School District teachers, and other educators and researchers in marine biology.
Currently, Save the Whales mainly serves the area around Monterey, California.
But, Save the Whales also maintains a web presence through savethewhales.org, its online portal.
There, supporters can find information on whales, links to important petitions regarding issues relevant to preserving whales, and other ways that supporters can help make a difference or support Save the Whales.
How Save the Whales Protects Whales and the Environment
As educators, the Save the Whales foundation protects the environment through getting kids and adults interested in the plight of whales.
But, once people know about the threats to whales, from whaling to naval testing, both kids and adults can take further steps to save the whales.
Several petitions have been publicized through the efforts of Save the Whales.
The most high-profile project of Save the Whales came in getting a court ruling against the Navy’s underwater tests in southern California, which, if allowed to go through, would have killed thousands of whales.
Save the Whales joined with other environmental groups to stop the Navy from detonating underwater explosives in areas populated with many kinds of sea life, including whales.
Educational projects continue regarding whaling, run-off, and other environmental issues.
For example, while many people think that whaling was outlawed by international convention in 1986, several countries still allow whales to be killed by their fishermen.
While this high-profile cause garners much attention, Save the Whales also focuses on other problems affecting whales, such as educating children about fertilizer and other agricultural run-off.
This run-off can severely damage the ecosystems of whales and other marine mammals. Right now, Save the Whales is also engaged in educating children about the dangers of releasing balloons into the environment.
History of the Save the Whales Foundation
Save the Whales was founded by Maris Sidenstecker II in 1977, when she registered the organization as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
The foundation’s story actually begins in 1975, when Maris Sidenstecker was only fourteen years old.
Having read an article on project Jonah, Sidenstecker took fifty dollars out of her savings account and had several t-shirts printed with the phrase “Save the Whales.”
Soon, she and her mother were selling the t-shirts out of the back of Rolling Stone and donating the proceeds to project Jonah.
After working with whales for several years and getting a bachelor’s degree in marine biology and zoology from Humbolt State University, Sidenstecker and Save the Whales created the “Whales On Wheels” program.
Since 1988, the “Whales On Wheels” program has made it possible to educate children (and adults) who cannot get to aquariums or the ocean to see whales first hand.