Although a great family movie, the Big Miracle misses the big picture.

Although for some it is very old news, I saw the film “Big Miracle”, based on a true life story about three endangered Pacific Grey Whales trapped in Alaska and the rescue efforts to save them. The unfortunate thing is that the real message was watered down and overlooked!

As is usual with scriptwriters, the story was “much to do with Hollywood” and altered from the real story. The movie, although moving and portraying the mindsets of the people and cultures affected by the “whales plight”, did touch but touch upon the realities of current Inupiat life and the lust for power by oil barons.

The only ones not really represented or understood were the ones the story was really all about – whales! Read the rest of this entry »

A Whale of a Time?

I don’t usually post other people’s blogs, but if you are living in the L.A. area, take a ride to the Santa Monica pier and join in the festivities:

On February 18th and 19th our aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier will be hosting “A Whale of a Weekend,” celebrating the annual gray whale migration along our coast. Read the rest of this entry »

Some times I amazed at the press and their PR antics.

You see this all too often. Sensationalism done for notoriety's sake.

Earlier this week, a YouTube video caught the eyes of people all over the internet world. The video captured two things if you look closely: the creation of a ‘bubble net’ used by Humpback whales to corral fish they are about to eat, and then the actual surfacing, or breaching, of Humpback whales between two kayakers and a woman on a paddle board.

It was a rare shot and actually a good one. But then the Press loves controversy:

“Woman Almost Swallowed by Whale!”

Well, sort of. Nearly doesn’t really say that she was swallowed. But anyone reading the headline bites the proverbial lie and goes to the site where such an untruth has been dealt. Read the rest of this entry »

Recently there was an article stating that whales might be using celestial mechanics on their yearly migratory routes.

The article noted that after an eight-year study, the migratory patterns varied by less than 5 degrees!

Previously it had been thought that whales followed geo-magnetic patterns or sun tracking mechanisms. However in turbulent waters neither method actually works.

The question begins to rise – just how smart are whales?

We already know that whales now do have names for each other. We also know that the females experience menopause just as humans do. And then there are varying social hierarchies with the pods of whales. Additionally whales have been videoed training their young to hold their breath under water, as that is not a natural-born trait and must be learned.

Read the rest of this entry »

There are fewer than 130 Western Gray whales in existence

Just this past week, Russian officials have argued for sustainable fishing of whitefish. In one sense that is a big move. But not a big move for whales.

But oil is another thing. As long as countries are now being forced into discovering their own resources for their own energy crisis, I believe such arguments will fall on deaf ears. That does not make it right, especially when recent studies now show food chains being turned upside down with whales being killed. There is now a direct correlation of krill populations and fish populations linked to living whales.

But when you have a country forced into the energy game by world banks and nations at war those environmental concerns go out the door, when honestly, those concerns should be first. Whales fall somewhere dead last.

Where are the minds that can create alternative fuel resources? We have been lead to believe whales are nothing but fish or food, when scientists are now discovering whales have their own language and social orders. They even use quantum physics in their songs. And where non-threatened actually interact with man in quite profound ways. So if we have been lied to at that level, why are we all so quick to jump on the energy band wagon, tearing up our natural resources?

It boils down to the fact that those in charge of the acceptable energy methods “have the gold” and they won’t wean us off of oil until they have “had their fill” of all men’s pockets.

And it is not just the oil companies. Notice how you suddenly get more fuel efficient cars – and yet suddenly oil prices escalate?

Well, there is no such thing as a reality TV show (it’s all scripted), so why should it be any different on the outside?

Think about it.

map of baja

Yes, believe it or not, a whale did that!

This past week I took a trip down to Baja, California with the intent purpose of experiencing Pacific Gray Whales up close.

What I did not realize is that these whales had the same idea about me!

I happened to find a very modest tour to Guerro Negro, a small city two-thirds of the way down Baja. Guerro Negro is known for two things: table salt and whales. That’s right, table salt and whales.

This small town is responsible for pretty much all the salt you find on your table. And as far as whales, well, next to Guerro Negro are huge lagoons where Pacific Gray Whales come to mate and have their calves.

When we finally arrived at the small boat dock, each boat only held 8 people. The drive to the center of the lagoon takes you past sand dunes, until you begin seeing 10-15 water spouts, and aroused 40 ton males jumping clean out of the water! Read the rest of this entry »