Thank you for taking time to read my petition. I am a 4th grader in St. Louis, MO and have been studying Orcas and how to save them from further endangerment. I am writing this petition to help stop Orca and whale endangerment from ships.

Did you know that 20,000 whales are killed or injured by ships each year. This number includes Orcas. There are only approximately 50,000 Orcas left in the wild. They are an important species and help maintain a healthy ecosystem. Whales, including Orcas, tend to travel the same route each year and they are often the same as planned shipping routes.

To lessen the death and injury of these animals, shipping companies could make small changes to their ships and/or ship routes. By doing this, Orca and whale population numbers would go up. Some changes that could be made are:

• Ship body modification to include propellers that are not as sharp and bows that are not as pointed. These small changes would still allow the ship to float while causing less injury to whales and other animals.
• Shipping companies could plan ahead to avoid whale migration and travel when the routes are less crowded.
• If advanced travel plans can not be made, ships could slow down their travel speed to less than 10 knots in areas where whales are known to be at.

If shipping companies do not make these necessary changes, Orcas and other whale species may soon go extinct. Please sign this petition and help me save the Orcas!