A proposal to create a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic Ocean was defeated this week at a meeting in Brazil of the International Whaling Commission, or IWC. Whales are mammals that live in the sea and some are among the largest animals ever to have lived. The proposal received support from 39 countries but was opposed by 25. That was just a little less than the three-quarters majority needed for approval. Brazil first introduced the proposal in 2001. Japan and other nations argued that the sanctuary was not needed because countries are not currently doing commercial whaling in the South Atlantic. Environmental groups and conservationists argued that the sanctuary would protect whales from being hunted, trapped in fishing gear or struck by ships. Brazilian Environmental Minister Edson Duarte promised to fight for the proposal at future meetings.