WWF and O&M Hong Kong step up “Vote Ruby” campaign after latest chinese white dolphin death

WWF-Hong Kong, via Ogilvy & Mather Hong Kong, is stepping up the “Vote Ruby” campaign in tribute to the 2.6m Chinese white dolphin found dead in the waters of Tuen Mun last Saturday. While official post-mortem results are yet to be posted, the deep wounds, bruises and scars on her remains were clear indicators of the threats to the species due to neglect of the marine environment.

WWF entered Ruby into the Miss HK beauty competition back in June to raise awareness for the plight of these beautiful creatures. Ruby didn’t make the final ten but the campaign does not stop there. With the back-up of celebrity supporter Karen Mok, WWF this week released a video urging Hong Kongers to sign the Vote Ruby petition at the newly re-launched website to both urge the Government to immediately designate the surrounding waters of western Lantau and Soko Islands as Marine Parks, and crown the beloved dolphin the ‘people’s Miss HK’. The campaign will also be promoted on social media by a number of celebrities including Daniel Wu.

Samantha Lee, Senior Conservation Officer, Marine of WWF-Hong Kong commented: “I am deeply saddened by Hong Kong’s recent loss. While latest numbers in 2012 showed that there are only 61 Chinese white dolphins left in local waters, I am sure that the continued threats to their existence mean that their numbers are even fewer now. If our careless neglect of their habitat continues, we may lose them forever. There has never been a more urgent time to take action and call for a safer and cleaner home for the dolphins.”

Artists have come on board to back Ruby, including Hong Kong-based British artist Mark Goss. Goss’s mixed media works usually celebrate the aesthetic of the city’s often overlooked aspects but for Ruby he will be creating a live street-mural at Sai Yeung Choi Street in Mong Kok from 8pm on Wednesday 28 August. Goss hopes his work (left) will help raise public awareness for the beauty of Hong Kong’s Chinese white dolphins and encourage Hong Kongers to take action to protect the species by signing the Vote Ruby petition. Cecilia Ho, local-born artist known for her dreamy, psychedelic prints  has also created a series of “Ruby” inspired educational pieces for the WWF-Hong Kong Facebook Page.

WWF aims to collect the signatures of at least 100,000 Hong Kong citizens for the “Vote Ruby” petition by the end of October 2013 through both online and off-line campaigning.