Seahorses Fall Under World Trade Protection Laws

POINT ROBERTS, WA, Delta, B.C. June 15, 2004 -This year seahorses have fallen under the protective watch of CITES, otherwise known as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. All 33 different classifications of the species are now officially covered by international trade rules that strive to keep the species alive and well amidst the 77 countries who take part in their trade.

The new CITES listing means that approximately 160 countries must now ensure that commercial trade of the seahorse remains fair and non-harmful to the development of their populations.

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network of the World Wildlife Fund and IUCN, the World Conservation Union, have now created an ID manual, which will be distributed to Customs agents and law enforcement officials around the world in 165 different countries, to help aid in the protection and regulation of all 33 different species.

One less known fact about seahorse is that once they have met their mate, they stay with them for a very long time and if their partner should leave, it takes them a very long time to find another to breed with. This particular aspect of their nature makes them very sensitive to over fishing and extraction by seahorse admirers. Hence, the reason why it is essential that regulatory and protective bodies get involved and take action to preserve them while the timing is still right.

I Sea Horses is pleased to take part in the protection of these delicate and alluring creatures, by setting aside a part of its website to promote feature articles and organizations such as Wild Invest, a body that was created in July 1997 by Diana van de Kamp. Wild Invest is a unique charity, who emphasizes and promotes "the idea that helping to fund conservation projects is an investment. We are all stakeholders in the planet and investing in its future produces incomparable returns." Investors are asked yearly to top up their donation amounts, which can start anywhere from $1,000 or £1,000.

In addition to printable coloring pages and these links, www.ISeaHorses.com hosts a 'Seahorse Facts' section at: www.ISeaHorses.com/facts.htm, where kids can learn all kinds of interesting things, such as what kinds of food seahorses eat, how they like to swim in pairs, linked by their tales and how these sea creatures usually live in tropical locations or along temperate coasts.

The site and more information about the seahorses can also be found on the nametag of each collectible seahorse made and distributed by Wild Heart Ranch, Inc. Stop by and swim beneath our waves at www.ISeaHorses.com, to learn more about how you can celebrate this amazing sea creature. Let Pegasus, Meadow, Sunflower, Splash, Sandy and Bubbles whisk you away to the site that is fast becoming the Internet's one stop shop for seahorse facts and fun!

By Jennifer Lee, Staff Writer

About I Sea Horses: www.ISeaHorses.com
Splash Into Our Undersea Magical Adventure!
Collectible plush seahorses and children's book about a magical heard of wild horses that choose a life in the sea.

About Wild Heart Ranch: www.WildHeartRanch.com, www.ISeaHorses.com, www.PlushCollectible.com, www.Collectible.com  
Wild Heart Ranch, Inc. is a publishing, entertainment and toy company that creates and licenses non-violent toys and products based on original ideas, stories and characters. The 'Lucky Stars Collection', 'No More Night Mares', 'Armadillo Cowboy Club' & 'I Sea Horses' brands, characters, logos, stories, web sites, video games, patents and trademarks, are all properties of Wild Heart Ranch, Inc.

For more information contact

Toll Free: 1.888.889.9213

Jennifer Randle
jenny@wildheartranch.com
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Courtney Billinkoff
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Dawn Van Zant
dawn@wildheartranch.com