Read the passage carefully.

Dolphins are very popular animals. They are considered intelligent and friendly and seem to play and smile all the time. There are almost 40 species of dolphins, and watching them in their natural environment is an unforgettable experience.

However, the future of these marine mammals is in danger. Amongst the many threats to dolphins are environmental pollution, noise pollution, habitat destruction and industrial fishing. Many dolphins die as bycatch in fishing nets or cannot find enough food due to overfishing.

To protect dolphins from extinction, the United Nations declared 2007 the Year of the Dolphin. With this campaign, the United Nations wanted to make people aware of the many threats dolphins face.

Patron of the Year of the Dolphin was Prince Albert II of Monaco. He said, “The Year of the Dolphin allows me to renew my firm commitment towards protecting marine biodiversity. With this strong initiative, we can make a difference to save these fascinating marine mammals from the brink of extinction.”