Hayden Panettiere dives back into Japanese waters

via Ecorazzi

Hayden Panettiere is back in Japan this weekend and on a mission. The Heroes’ actress has been a spokesperson for the Save the Whales Again! campaign to prevent the deaths of tens of thousands of dolphins due to hunting in Japan, as publicized in The Cove, which recently won the Oscar for Best Documentary.

The Save the Whales Again! campaign is an effort by The Whaleman Foundation, an oceanic research and conservation group that is dedicated to the preservation and protection of dolphins, whales, and their natural environment.

Currently back in Taiji, at the site in Japan featured in the documentary, Hayden hopes to open communication between activists and the Japanese locals in an effort to raise awareness about the dangers associated with dolphin hunting. The town of Taiji itself hunts about 2,000 dolphins each year either for meat to be consumed, or to be captured and sold to water park shows and aquariums. The consumption of dolphin meat also poses the threat of high mercury contamination, a toxic health risk.

Despite the success of The Cove, many people are still unaware of the dangers these creatures are facing. Tell a friend today and join the movement to keep the underwater eco-system clean, and prevent dolphins from becoming endangered.