Colourful whale puppets were used to educate visitors to ‘The Whale Song’ about the planet’s largest mammal, as one of the activities. Children were also offered the opportunity to create whale-inspired arts and crafts, engage in exciting games, play with magic balloons and have their faces painted at this event at Odel’s Alexandra Place store.
“World Animal Day is a significant day for all of us and this year our focus is on whales. It is important that we foster a generation that admires respects and drives conservation of these magnificent mammals of the ocean. At a time when our animals are under the biggest threat due to living habits of humans, every little bit helps make a change for our future,” said Odel founder and CEO Otara Gunewardene who is also a World Animal Day Ambassador.
Odel’s campaign for whales seeks to make people aware of the fact that although whales are enormous, they can be disturbed and harassed by boatloads of eager sightseers pursuing them in their natural habitat. The campaign’s objective is to create awareness about admiring them from a distance in a responsible manner.
As part of its campaign, Odel has produced a whale-inspired range of products including T shirts, mugs, soft toys and stationery. Part of the profits from their sale is to be contributed to Sri Lanka’s first Responsible Whale Watching Accreditation programme in Mirissa conducted by Friends of the Sea, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation whose mission is the conservation of the marine habitat. The organisation was also present at the event.
Pictured here are some of the fun activities that formed ‘The Whale Song’ organised by Odel to mark World Animal Day 2014.
