WWF June eNewsletter

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Whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, gather in schools to feed on the plankton where the river meets the Donsol Bay. © naturepl.com/David Fleetham/WWF Fireflies and Whale Sharks From the flashing dance of the fireflies in the mangroves to the bioluminescence glowing in the river, WWF's Catherine Plume experienced something special one night in Donsol, an island town in the Philippines. Read her first-hand account to find out what links fireflies and whale sharks--and how WWF's conservation activities have the added benefit of helping to generate income for local communities. In Depth Expert Guide: About Cathy Plume The Place: The World’s Richest Garden of Corals and Sea Life Positive Results for People and Wildlife in the Coral Triangle Share:     Owen and Audrey look west from a ridge in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. © Colby Loucks How Nature Inspires a Father and His Family By Colby Loucks, Director of WWF’s Conservation Science Program The morning sun will peek over the trees this Father’s Day as I scan the inside of my family’s tent--wondering just how I was elbowed to its very edge while my wife and two children sprawl across the other 90 percent. Since the birth of my daughter Audrey, almost nine years ago, my wife Andrea and I have packed up the car and taken the kids camping for Father’s Day weekend in one of the many state parks, national forests or national parks surrounding our home... June Caption Contest Enter the WWF Photo Caption Contest and your creative caption could be featured in next month's e-newsletter. "I told you to stay out of that dryer!" Jane M., Mill Creek, Wash. May's Contest Winner Submit your clever caption for this photo! Bristol Bay's wild salmon fishery provides more than 14,000 full- and part-time jobs. © WWF Help Protect Bristol Bay from Pebble Mine Bristol Bay is threatened by the possible creation of the largest open pit gold and copper mine in U.S. history, called Pebble Mine. The U.S. EPA states that, if developed, Pebble Mine will have unacceptable adverse effects on the rivers, streams, species and fisheries that have supported the region’s cultures and economy for centuries. Thank the EPA and urge the Obama administration to continue to protect the region from the potentially disastrous Pebble Mine. Tell Dad that he's the coolest. Send a Father's Day E-card Looking to make Dad smile this Sunday on Father's Day? Tell him that he is the coolest by sending a Father's Day e-card. Sending WWF e-cards is a fun, easy and environmentally friendly way to say that you care. Don't forget all of the fathers, grandfathers and men in your life! FEATURED VIDEOS What is it like to be a wildlife biologist in the Northern Great Plains? Tracking the health and population of gentle giants of the sea FEATURED EXPEDITION Gray whale © WWF-US/Colby Loucks Baja: Among the Great Whales January 26 - February 2, 2013 Each winter, gray whales journey south from the Arctic to breed in warmer waters. Join WWF on an expedition to Baja California, one of North America's premier whale watching sites, to come face-to-face (and perhaps even eye-to-eye) with this magnificent species. You'll also walk on uninhabited desert islands, and snorkel and kayak in the Sea of Cortez. FEATURED SPECIES © Javier Ordonez/WWF Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) Status: Threatened Basics: Whale sharks are the world's largest living fish species, reaching up to 45 feet long. They can be found in all temperate and tropical oceans around the world, with the exception of the Mediterranean Sea. Threats: International demand for their meat, fins and oil; bycatch Interesting Fact: The whale shark is a filter feeder and eats by sucking water through its mouth and expelling it through the gills, trapping millions of plankton inside.