People have to understand that human lives and that of dolphins is linked and connected. If dolphins no longer exist, it will have a profound effect on the lives of people, who are dependent on seas and oceans for their livelihood. Hence, knowing what is being done to protect endangered dolphins is a must. This will allow people also to make contribution to the efforts.

The fact that governments around the world are waking up to make an effort to protect the dolphin speaks volumes. The dolphins are endangered. They require a place to go for their food and to raise their offspring without humans endangering their survival. This can only be done if certain policies are enacted and people are made aware about the importance of dolphins to the ecosystem.

Thankfully, many governments have policies in place that make it unlawful to hunt and kill dolphins. In addition, nongovernmental organizations are trying to collect as much data as possible on dolphin habitats and presenting them to the government, so that these cetaceans' habitats can be protected and preserved. Again, this requires laws to be passed, and many countries are enacting those laws.

In many countries, governments and marine wildlife organizations are working together to educate people on the need to protect the dolphins and how they can live in harmony with them. The fact remains that in many fishing communities across the world, humans and dolphins are constantly competing for food. Unfortunately, humans constantly win this competition. As a result, dolphins are running out of food sources. So, if consumers realize that by consuming their favorite seafood, they are depriving dolphins from their food, they may stop eating those seafood. This will bring down the demand for seafood, such as squids and tuna.

The dolphins are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and by the Endangered Species Act. The CITES, or Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, prohibits money-making trade of dolphins along with several other endangered species, and thankfully, there are around 172 nations, which are members of the CITES and do not allow this trade. This is also helping dolphin numbers to recover in areas where they had decreased dramatically.

However, without people's help no dolphins can be saved. As more and more people are realizing the importance of saving the dolphins, more are joining the efforts. Some people are adopting dolphins, so that money can be used to preserve the dolphins and their natural habitat. Others have stopped feeding dolphins in the wild, as if these cetaceans are fed by humans, they cease hunting and wait for humans to feed them. The dolphins also cease teaching their calves how to hunt for prey, and as a result there is competition between them and the young for the handouts that they get. Unfortunately, this can adversely affect the number of the dolphins in the wild, as the younger dolphins can starve to death if they do not know how to hunt. Furthermore, the feeding makes the dolphins more friendly towards humans and this causes them to approach boats looking for handouts. This can cause accidents, as the dolphins can get hurt by the propellers or even get caught in the fishing lines.

Ensuring that the dolphin habitat is not polluted plays a big role in saving them. This means that chemicals and toxic substances should not find their way into oceans and seas. Many governments are taking steps to make sure that this does not happen. However, even people can help by volunteering to clean up beaches and shorelines. And, take other steps to care for the environment.

Many dolphins are killed during tuna fishing. So, if you are fond of tuna, always opt for tuna that states clearly that it is dolphin friendly. These companies ensure that dolphins are not hurt or killed during tuna fishing. This will also keep their numbers from dwindling.

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• Do Wild Dolphins Migration ?
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• Facts About Maui Dolphin
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• How Many Amazon River Dolphins Are Left ?
• Lifecycle Of A Pacific Dolphin
• Types Of Dolphins
• What Do Dolphins Eat ?
• What Is Being Done To Protect Endangered Dolphins ?
• What Is Being Done To Save The Chinese White Dolphin ?
• What Kind Of Fish Do Dolphins Eat ?
• What Part Of The World Do Dolphins Live In ?
• Where Do Bottlenose Dolphins Live ?

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