Washington, D.C. — An imposing 66-foot orca whale will be unveiled to the public on Brighton Beach on the south coast of England, ahead of the fourth annual ‘WhaleFest’ on March 14-15, which promises to be the largest event of its kind in the world.[teaserbreak]
The stunning 65-foot sculpture, made up of 1,500 individual black and white crosses, will form the shape of a mother and baby whale, with each cross representing an orca who has died in captivity.
Dubbed the ‘Whale Grave Yard’ and set against the dramatic backdrop of Brighton’s iconic West Pier, this unique sculpture will be a star attraction and the perfect way to mark the start of this year’s WhaleFest! Click here to view photos.
Compassionate stars, including Born Free Foundation founder and actress, Virginia McKenna OBE; natural history TV presenter, adventurer, and author, Steve Backshall; singer and TV favorite, Peter Andre; comedian Vic Reeves; Coronation Street legend Helen Worth; and actress Rula Lenska are just a handful of those who have publicly pledged their support for the Whale Grave Yard by signing whale tails for auction.
WhaleFest’s Director, Ian Rowlands, said: “Similar to the Tower of London’s incredible ‘poppies’ tribute last year, we hope that the Whale Grave Yard will provide a moving reminder that marine animals continue to suffer and die unnecessarily in captivity. We are sure that this impressive art installation will be a great talking point and visual representation of the plight of marine mammals around the world.”
The Whale Grave Yard is just the start of what WhaleFest2015 has in store. The two-day event, which will take place March 14-15 at the Brighton Centre, has something for everyone, including topical debate and discussion from wildlife celebrities, leading names from the marine conservation world, Members of Parliament, and wildlife film makers and photographers across three stages inside the venue.
There will also be a stunning selection of ‘Whale Tail’ sculptures, each individually designed by a local artist and signed by celebrities, on display inside the Brighton Centre and available to purchase after the event.
Ian concluded, “We’re lucky to have had really high profile support this year and from the public at large, who have been busy sending in ‘whalefies’—or ‘whale selfies’—which we have been posting to our Facebook and Twitter sites. We are greatly looking forward to welcoming visitors to Brighton for WhaleFest 2015.”
Tickets are still available for WhaleFest2015. Please visit: www.whale-fest.com/tickets.
Images of celebrity WhaleFest supporters are available on request.
The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. Born Free takes action worldwide to protect threatened species and stop individual animal suffering. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase out zoos. The organization rescues animals from lives of misery in tiny cages and gives them lifetime care.
Born Free protects lions, elephants, tigers, gorillas, wolves, polar bears, dolphins, marine turtles, and many more species in their natural habitats, working with local communities to help people and wildlife live together without conflict. Born Free’s high-profile campaigns change public attitudes, persuade decision-makers, and get results. Every year, Born Free helps hundreds of thousands of animals worldwide. For more information about Born Free, please visit: www.bornfree.org.uk.
Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to America the message of “compassionate conservation” — the vision of the U.K.-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son Will Travers. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org, www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa.
Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203/270-8929, therodicompany@gmail.com