The Active Retirement Club (ARC) recently had its own Blue Planet Live, when Bernard Purrier of the Whales and Dolphins Conservation (WDC) Charity came to speak to the group.
The WDC is an international organisation with its headquarters here in Wiltshire, in Chippenham. Dolphins have been valued by humans since classical times, as intelligent mammals who play and enjoy life, who recognise and help swimmers in distress, and can also devise behaviours to make their lives easier, such as using sponges to protect their beaks. Needless to say the males also have ways of impressing females with their acrobatics! However, these delightful animals, along with their fellow cetacians whales and porpoises, are under threat from the loss of their feeding grounds, pollution, and commercial hunting. Raising awareness of these threats is part of the WDC’s important work, and certainly impressed ARC members.
ARC members are looking forward to an outing to the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum near Calne, and to a quiz at the Horse & Groom. More information about these or any other ARC meetings from Bruce on 07968 662593 or www.arcwestbury.club.
