Story
<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p>
<p>I will be traveling to the Maldives this December to volunteer for the <strong>Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, MWSRP.</strong> I will see a whale shark for the very first time, swimming alongside this big beautiful creature in the open ocean. I know I will never be the same. If you know me, you know that I spend a lot of time dreaming about the ocean and all its wonders. I know I am not the only one. The ocean is a beautiful place filled with all sorts of beautiful creatures, such as the whale shark, currently listed as<em> vulnerable </em>by the IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature. <span style="color: #000000;">“Maldivian Whale Sharks are faced with daily threats, unfortunately usually linked with human interaction. These include fishing, by-catch, habitat disturbance and even being struck by the very boats that actively seek them,”</span><strong> </strong>(MWSRP). In the next hundred years, worldwide whale shark populations are expected to decrease 20 – 50 percent. Please take a moment to make a donation and help fund the future for these gentle giants. <br /><br />Did I mention the whale shark is the largest fish on the planet, growing up to 18 meters in length? : ) <br /><br /><strong>ABOUT THE CHARITY:</strong><br /><br />“The MWSRP's overall scientific objectives are to answer the many whale shark unknowns and to contribute the findings to educate the public, and to protect and conserve a magnificent species of fish, whilst creating a perpetual Maldivian managed programme that will continue with and expand not only the current research but also provide the local community with education and conservation initiatives.” – <em>MWSRP</em><br /><br />MWSRP’s goal is to create a “collaboratively managed marine protected area in South Ari Atoll that will protect and preserve an important Maldivian aggregation area for the whale shark.” - <em>MWSRP</em><br /><br />“The MWSRP is just as much about researching the Whale Sharks, as it is about helping preserve the Maldivian heritage through protecting one of their greatest assets.” - <em>Alex Cheong, MWSRP Volunteer</em><br /><br />The whale sharks in all the oceans of are world are connected somehow. The MWSRP’s research has importance to the conservation of worldwide whale shark populations. For those of you living in Saudi Arabia, did you know these sharks have been spotted in the <span style="color: #000000;"><strong><em>Arabian Gulf</em>,</strong> as close as <strong><em>Bahrain</em></strong>, as well as the <strong><em>Red Sea</em></strong>?</span><br /><br />For more information on the MWSRP, please visit their website at <a href="http://www.mwsrp.org">http://www.mwsrp.org</a>.<br /><br />PROTECT THE SHARKS. SIMPLE.<br /><br /></p>
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