It used to be such a good catchphrase. "Save the Whales!" But then, as legislators and enforcement seems to be cracking down on illegal whaling and blatant toxic pollution of our oceans, it lost its lustre, and people turned to other, newer, more exciting and pressing issues.

But they're back. Well, the whales issue never really left, but with releases of films like The Cove that turned people's eyes back to the problem of large-scale, long-term loss of marine mammal life, the whales are getting our attention once again. For instance, see what The Whaleman Foundation is doing, with their Save the Whales Again campaign. Reports from scientists who have been studying the effects of human actions on whale populations are beginning to make the news, again.

Want to know more? Here's some in-depth information on the Southern Resident communities of orca whales from explore's trip to the Pacific Northwest, guided by Ken Balcomb, who, like many engaged in studying and preserving these giant, beautiful creatures, never stopped saving them.