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According
to official numbers, more than 54,000 whales have been hunted in Peru
between 1951 and 1987 and it is very probable that the real number is
much higher. These whales have not been hunted by Peruvians, but by
foreign whaling fleets. The last nation to arrive in Peru in order to
hunt whales was Japan. They established a whaling basis in Paita from
where they hunted sperm whales. Because of this activity, Peru was one
of the countries to ratify the international moratorium on whaling
In recent times, the Peruvian government has shown a wiser policy towards whales. Recuperating it's voting rights in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and recognizing it's responsibility, the government representatives voted in favor of whale conservation. Being a member of the IWC is not just an additional burden for a developing country. It is much more an opportunity to take part in a decision making process that may benefit the Peruvian people in their economic development as well as the conservation of their country's biodiversity.
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Southern Right Whale ( © Stephen Johnson) |
With more than 30 species of whales and dolphins being registered in its marine and aquatic area, Peru is one of the countries in South America with the highest potential for whale watching tourism. But many of the species registered - especially the big whales - are migratory species. It therefore does not make a lot of sense to try to protect them only on a national level while Japanese whalers kill them in the Antarctic waters. The protection of whales as a global natural heritage is of vital interest to Peru.
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Minke whale |
Mundo Azul is actively working with the governmental entities like the Foreign Affairs Ministry, being responsible to secure Peru's conservation policy on an international level, by taking part in workshops and establishing regular information exchange. We are also active in informing the Peruvian public on the latest events on international whale conservation due to an active media work on the national level.
Whales
and dolphins in Peru
Dolphin research
of Mundo Azul
What Mundo Azul does
to protect whales and dolphins
Go dolphin watching
in Peru
Become a dolphin conservation volunteer
Adopt a dolphin
Give a name to your
favorite dolphin
Stop the dolphin slaughter
in Peru
A short history
of dolphin killing in Peru
Stop whaling
Stop dolphin captivity
What you can do
to protect dolphins and whales in Peru
First aid for stranded
whales and dolphins