Just when you thought it was safe to be in the water...

Sharks get a bad rap, with deadly consequences. Help us fight back against threats to our ocean’s iconic marine life! Sharks get a bad rap, with deadly consequences. Help us fight back against threats to our ocean’s iconic marine life! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [header logo with donate button]( [Oceanic Whitetip Sharks Swim Over Reef © Valeria Mas]( Defender, It’s a horror scene straight out of a summer blockbuster: You think you’re safe, swimming along in the ocean. But nearby, just on the other side of the water, is a creature about to rip you to shreds. Maybe you flashed back to the opening scene of “Jaws,” but these days, it’s the sharks themselves trapped in this deadly nightmare. Countless sharks are being driven to the brink – over a third of shark and ray species are currently threatened with extinction. Humans are causing many of these deaths, through overfishing for their meat and fins, by-catch, and habitat loss. [We’ve been fighting to end the over-exploitation of endangered sharks and to protect their habitats for years. Join us today with a gift that will help keep these animals safe!]( You should know the truth about sharks: They’re not bloodthirsty monsters, they’re vital animals, top predators that keep marine ecosystems in check. Many sharks live long lifetimes, and it takes years to give birth to offspring that will keep their species going. But as people kill off sharks, intentionally and through recklessness, the species can’t keep up with the deaths – and we’re in danger of losing them. That’s why we’ve fought for years to keep sharks from disappearing, by advocating at the international level to keep them safe and by holding our own agencies accountable for stopping imperiled species like the oceanic whitetip shark and shortfin makos from going extinct. Become a champion for these often misunderstood but critically important creatures. From the biggest to the smallest, sharks need you to save them from disappearing forever – please lend your support today! [DEFEND OUR OCEANS – PITCH IN TODAY!]( On behalf of all of us at Defenders, thank you for looking past the myths and Hollywood storylines to see the real animals that need our help. Sincerely, Wildlife Rapid Response Team Defenders of Wildlife Defenders of Wildlife 1130 17th Street NW • Washington, DC 20036 defenders.org --------------------------------------------------------------- Photo Credit: Oceanic Whitetip Sharks © Valeria Mas This email was sent to {EMAIL} [Update]( your email preferences or [unsubscribe]( [supporter]