Hayden Panettiere will be honored for raising awareness of whale and dolphin slaughter in Japan.
The Heroes star will receive the Wyler Prize at the Humane Society of the United States’ 2008 Genesis Awards. Hayden hit headlines when she joined a group of protesters who tried to disrupt a dolphin hunt in Taiji, Wakayama last year.

“We feel Hayden is a very worthy successor to Sir Paul McCartney, last year’s Wyler Award recipient,” says Beverly Kaskey, Senior Director of the Humane Society’s Hollywood Office. “She’s an inspiring example to her generation, using her compassion, courage and celebrity to help animals in a very effective way.”

The Genesis Awards will take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 29th.