The photo exhibition “Trapped in a noose: saving seals” opened in the visit center of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve. The images show real scenes of rescuing animals from deadly loops into which they have fallen due to human fault, usually due to discarded fishing nets from fishing vessels overboard, plastic from tourist liners or abandoned by people on the shore. The organizer of the exhibition dedicated to the development of the Friends of the Ocean volunteer project is the Boomerang Club, an old friend of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve.
More than 30 species of marine mammals live in the waters of the North Pacific Ocean. More than half of them are in the Red List of Russia or individual regions. These include sea lions, sea otters, gray and humpback whales. Every year, dozens of animals suffer from human activity: they swallow plastic, become entangled in fragments of nets and die painfully.
“Animals, like humans, need clean water, a place where they can get food, give birth and raise offspring. But more and more often we see that marine mammals are getting into tragic situations related to plastic and other debris. This is a signal that people are wrong about recycling plastic, such a convenient, almost eternal material that is used for packaging. At the exhibition, we urge everyone to notice this problem, think about it and start looking for ways to solve it together, to draw the attention of the state to it. After all, nature protection is one of the main national goals,” said Valentina Mezentseva, head of the Sakhalin non–profit organization Boomerang Club.
The photo project “Trapped in a noose: Saving seals” tells how people help animals in trouble.
“Everyone can help animals in different ways – some financially, and some with their hands. The seals are rescued by ordinary people who are really concerned about this problem and want to help solve it. Yes, this is help here and now, it will not solve the situation as a whole. But those animals that are in trouble cannot wait for humanity to sort out the problem of garbage, they need help immediately!” said Valentina Kosova, a volunteer with the Friends of the Ocean marine mammal aid group.
Specially protected natural areas are of great importance in the conservation of marine mammals and their habitats.
“We are very pleased that we have a platform for photo projects that encourage people to think about the need to preserve nature. I am sure that none of the visitors will remain indifferent to the fate of marine life, will pay more attention to the problem of ocean pollution, lead an environmentally friendly lifestyle and, perhaps, join the program to save these wonderful animals,” said Marina Kabakova, head of the visit center of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve in Yelizovo.
The exhibition will run until May 18.
Those who wish to learn more about the protected nature of Kamchatka can sign up for a guided tour of the interactive exhibition of the modern visitor center of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve: +7-924-791-89-74. The ecological and educational platform is located at the address: Yelizovo, Ryabikova str., 48 B.