Dutch Postcode Lottery surprises ifaw with €1.5 million

IFAW is further scaling up the protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises with a contribution of €1.5M from the Dutch Postcode Lottery. These animals play an important role in regulating marine ecosystems and in storing CO2, thus helping to combat climate change. The donation will support IFAW in improving the chances of survival of rescued marine mammals after their release. We will also establish a long-term and sustainable training program to support and educate first responders and work to reduce threats to these animals in their habitats. 

Rikkert Reijnen, senior program advisor at IFAW: "There is so much we will be able to do with this amount. We are thrilled with this news!” says Rikkert. “Thanks to the Dutch Postcode Lottery and its participants, we can innovate further and share our knowledge.” 

Whales and dolphins are under threat  

Cetaceans—that is whales, dolphins and porpoises—are iconic marine mammals loved by people all over the world. Their survival is threatened, however, as evidenced by the significantly increasing number of cetacean strandings worldwide and in hotspots where IFAW works: The Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States.   

The project to be funded by the generous grant of the Dutch Postcode Lottery will focus on establishing an innovative, first-of-its kind Intensive Care Unit that aims to improve the survival rates of rescued cetaceans after their release. A formal international training program will be developed and IFAW will create new partnerships and start a campaign to ensure that threats to cetaceans, such as ocean noise pollution, ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, are reduced.   

Sabine Zwiers, senior campaigner at IFAW said, "Underwater noise and ship collisions are a direct result of our ever-growing shipping demands—a major and often lesser-known danger to whales. IFAW is keen to work together with the shipping industry on solutions that truly work. This contribution by the Dutch Postcode Lottery makes that possible."  

Support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery  

Protecting these marine mammals and saving individual animals is intensive work. It relies on the kind of long-term scientific research, hands-on experience, and cross-collaboration that comes with IFAW’s almost 25 years serving one of the world’s largest stranding hotspots. Laying the foundation for a global network of shared skills and innovation is also a major undertaking, and heavily dependent on private funding—such as the gift from the Dutch Postcode Lottery.