A bottlenose dolphin, with an S-shaped spinal deformity, is seen here rubbing against a sperm whale. Photograph courtesy Alexander Wilson and Aquatic Mammals

Recently an article written by Linda Poon, of the National Geographic news, covered what has been a rare interspecies event between a deformed bottle-nosed dolphin and sperm whales off the coast of the Azores.

Reading through the article, it was interesting the theories, ideas and thoughts expressed by biologists and behavioral “greats” about whales. I say this because there was too much significance placed into the idea that interspecies events such as these are rare in a marine setting, that there was more emphasis on “why” rather than noting the event and recognizing that cetaceans are social, caring and self-aware.

Mind you, none of these “specialists” have the ability to communicate directly with these creatures, yet they have lots of opinions about it! In a completely different area yet similar, as an artist, I have experienced business executives working with me on a creative project. They may know nothing about art, but they certainly have many opinions about it! Read the rest of this entry »

The Kimberley is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is in the northern part of Western Australia, bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts, and on the east by the Northern Territory.

We are trying to stop the mass industrialization of one of the rarest environments on Earth – the magnificent Kimberley, Australia – nursery and breeding grounds for Humpback Whales

Its pristine coast is home to the largest population of Humpback whales in the world – over 33,000 return each year to mate or give birth to the next generation of whales.

The largest protected areas are the Prince Regent Nature Reserve and the Drysdale River National Park along with Gregory National Park and Keep River National Park across in the Northern Territory which preserve similar habitats, (and indeed Keep River’s nearest town is Kununurra in the Kimberley).

The problem is, though, that while the land is being protected, the oceans surrounding Kimberly are not and neither are the whales Read the rest of this entry »

Last year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited SeaWorld following the death of a killer whale trainer. If a Florida court rules in favor of OSHA, employees of SeaWorld and other parks like it will no longer be able to come into direct contact with whales unless there is a barrier between them.

Although I usually write about the less aggressive whales, I by no means wish to forget Killer Whales and the ongoing saga with Sea World.

You see, Killer Whales are big business. People are drawn to intrigue and horror stories. And “Killer Whales” always draw a crowd, especially when “killers” can be shown to be playful, docile and controlled.

At least that is what you are led to believe.

But to understand it a bit more clearly, you need to separate out a couple of ideas. Ideas that confuse the issue, simply because words can border on sensational, and thus draw crowds. Crowds that pay money to see “killers”.

Killer whale jumping out of the blue water (Orcinus orca)

You see, the word “killer” usually brings into one’s mind a sinister thing, an evil thing. And from years ago, “killer” whales, were actually just that – whales that eat other whales. Recent events now show that these whales even eat sting rays and great white sharks.

The truth is, these whales are at the top of their food chain, just like we are. They eat other animals.

However, when any animal, including man, is caged and corralled, behaviors change. Men become violent. Well, so do whales, especially whales that are predators. Just like men, given the chance, they will turn against their keepers.

Tilikum is one such “killer” whale.

How would you express your rage at captivity, left to be in a room the size of a living room for the rest of your natural life?

As it turns out, Tilikum has killed two other people. But remember one thing – there are no records of wild orcas hunting and killing man in open waters. The behavior changed when forced these mammals were forced into a small enclosure.

Sea World has 25 of the 42 whales that exist in large-scale aquariums. And right now there is a move to remove trainers from being in the water with any orca. The interesting thing is that Sea World is attempting to stop this lawsuit by OSHA.

They are trying to prove that these animals can be “controlled” when the point is that having human trainers riding them are what visitors come to see every year, paying millions of dollars in entry fees and paraphernalia.

Does Sea World really care about the safety of their trainers…really?

The spark of sanity that may occur is that OSHA could win this case, denying trainers to be in the water with orcas.

People will no longer be drawn to the shows where trainers are thrown into the air, hug and ride whales.

The excitement will go.

And so will visitor attendance.

If OSHA wins their case, it means one step closer to freedom for these magnificent beings.

A Gray Whale Juvenile looking out from the water at the boat

As a few of you may have already read about my trip, I have been promising (and been asked) for more pictures and more video.

So here is my first “crack” at a video (call it more a teaser trailer) of an overview of my trip:

The Whales of Baja from Jon Soeder on Vimeo.

To reiterate, in was an incredibly profound adventure and specifically for two reasons.

The first is that the whales came to us in the boat. We had no food, nothing of value that they wanted. But they still came and gently played beneath our boat and throughout the short visit, lift their huge head to look at us and to be touched by a human hand. That is profound in itself, simply because I don’t know where on earth a 40 ton mammal will do that!

I don’t believe any mammal except man that comes close. I don’t even think man does that with other races, much less his own. These mammoth beings could turn the boat over and wreak havoc on the participants. Instead, they lounge and play about the boat. They are gentle and peaceful. And for those skeptics, well, you will have to see for yourselves. Eight people on a boat witnessed this.

And that is not all.

The females with their calves (children) brought them (2 months old – 3 tons) to the boat. In two separate instances and on two separate days, with two different females, the females PUSHED their babies to our boats. They each lifted their children up to the surface! You could look through the clear water and watch this phenomena.

Suddenly you had a “baby” looking at you. And it was looking at YOU! The instinct was to reach out and touch it. And the baby allowed you, responding to your touch by letting you continue to touch it!

There are those of you who call these creatures wild animals. Well, I have to tell you, you are quite mistaken. We treat them as caged animals in Seaworld. BTW, Seaworld has nothing on this – wild whales that let you come up and touch them!

But these whales are free.

A friend of mine asked my why would a whale do this. Well I will tell you what I know.

Gray Whales know that man is now responsible for their ultimate survival.

And so the logical solution is to demonstrate their peacefulness to us – that they wish us no harm. And so they even bring their children to us to touch and possibly bond. And maybe, just maybe, some men and women will take that idea back and help give them a chance at life and living free.

I would love to call myself a romanticist. That would be easy and it would be the end of my story and my experience. Probably some of my readers (more astute and learned) will scoff at my statements. But when a whale comes to you, looks at YOU, and lets you touch it, for me there is no other explanation.

We owe whales a chance at being free, just like we are free. We need to cease the harvesting and hunting of whales.

It can be what is referred to the “mouse that roared” in the history books of man.

In this case the “mouse” is Palau, a small island chain in the Philippines.

And who it roared at, is Japan.

And who Palau roared for, is endangered Dolphins and Whales!

The Palau island chain consists of about 200 islands located in the western Pacific Ocean, 528 mi (650 km) southeast of the Philippines. Only eight of the islands are permanently inhabited. They vary geologically from the high, mountainous, largest island, Babelthuap, to low coral islands, usually fringed by large barrier reefs. The population is roughly 22,000 people. And so compared to Japan, it is a ‘mouse’. But a very caring and intelligent one!

In a bold and daring move, Dr. Susan Lieberman, director of international policy for the PEW Environment Group, announced the creation of 230,000 square miles of safe haven for whales and dolphins surrounding the Palau island chain at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity – in Nagoya, Japan! Read the rest of this entry »