Patricia Durham

Patricia Durham is an NRDC member who visited Laguna San Ignacio in 2008.

I went somewhat reluctantly – anxious about inevitable seasickness, discomfited at the thought of many hours to be spent on water (not my natural element), already feeling confined by our tiny campsite on land.

The excitement of that very first hour on the waters of Laguna San Ignacio obliterated all such petty concerns. The magnificence of these huge, powerful, majestic, magical beings, and their willingness to relate intimately to us with utter trust and curiosity was unbelievable, unforgettable, and, ultimately, indescribable. If each of us could have just one such experience – however fleeting - with others with whom we share this earth, the future of our planet would no longer be in doubt.

I am grateful to the Natural Resources Defense Counsel, to Jacob Scherr and others at NRDC, who led the remarkable campaign to save these wild, wonderful creatures, protect their habitat and way of life, and preserve for each of us the opportunity to meet them eye to eye, skin to skin, heart to heart. Thank you all, for a truly transformational experience.

This extraordinary campaign encapsulates the essence of NRDC – its truly outstanding people, momentous purpose, manifold methods, and critically important results.

Patricia Durham
February 2010

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