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USN low frequency sonar Subsequent whale page Previous whale page home
November 7, 1999
TWO SPECIAL MOMENTS
The first was captured on the film of a pair of whale biologists winding up a disappointing day at sea during which they had seen no whales. After the woman decided to go for a swim, however, a humpback whale approached. The woman reached out a hand toward the whale above the water. With great delicacy, the whale placed the tip of a massive
fin precisely in the woman's outstretched palm as s/he swam past.
The second special occasion honoring a deceased orca is described by Susan Berta of the Tokitae Foundation (see below) as follows:
> August 23rd....It was a beautiful day in the San Juans. The sun that's
> been eluding us all summer shone brightly - the whales, who hadn't been
> around for a few days, were travelling north up the west side of San Juan
> Island, arriving at the Lime Kiln Lighthouse precisely at 1:30 p.m, just as
> Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro began his "Goodbye to Ralph (J6)"
> speech.
>
> Incredibly, as Ralph began his talk, he was interrupted & upstaged by an
> amazing show of support from J6's family (but I don't think he minded...)!
> All three pods went frolicking by, with no less than SIX full breaches
> exploding right behind Ralph as he spoke of his strong connection with the
> whales, & J6 in particular, & what a great loss it is to us all to lose J6
> & the other whales that did not return this year. Ralph's connection with
> the whales was clearly obvious to everyone there who witnessed that magical
> moment that was just too perfect & precise to be a mere coincidence. Magic,
> maybe, but not coincidence.
>
> Ralph & his wife Karen also spoke of Lolita, & of their hopes & efforts to
> bring her back to her family in Puget Sound. Ralph & Karen are clearly
> dedicated & committed to our neighboring community of whales. They are
> working not only for Lolita's freedom, but for the "whale-being" of all of
> J, K & L pods. They emphasized the importance of keeping their habitat
> clean & healthy, bringing back the salmon runs, & reducing other human
> impacts, such as harrassment by whale watchers & recreational boaters.
>
> After the speech, Ralph & Karen tossed a wreath into the water to honor
> the passing of their beloved J6, & the other whales we lost this year, &
> laid roses on the rocks in their memory.
>
> These losses were heartbreaking for us all - but to witness the rest of
> the pods' frolicking & breaching, the new babies leaping clear out of the
> water, full of life & vigor - was a vivid reminder to us all that we need
> to keep fighting for their whale-being & safety, & for a healthier habitat
> for them to swim in. And we need to keep fighting for Toki's freedom - to
> reunite her with her family so she can frolic & breach & swim freely with
> her own kind, & someday have some babies of her own to help the Southern
> Resident Community bounce back from the losses of the past few years.
>
> I am so thankful to have been a witness to the magic of yesterday's
> enthusiastic display by our whale friends, & to know that we have amazingly
> wonderful people like Ralph & Karen Munro working for Lolita & her family's
> whalefare. And I can't think of anyone more deserving of a "Six-Breach
> Salute"! I believe the whales know much more than we realize, & they know
> that Ralph is a true friend who will never cease his struggle for their
> safety & freedom~
>
> Susan Berta
> The Tokitae Foundation
> susanb@whidbey.net
>
> Howard Garrett
> Tokitae Foundation
> Lolita Campaign Coordinator
> (305) 672-4039
> tokitae@bellsouth.net
November 7, 1999
Free Lolita - The Tokitae Foundation
The Tokitae/Lolita Foundation is dedicated to returning a 35-year old orca from the Miami Seaquarium (where she has been a prisoner since 1970) to her home and family in Canadian waters around Puget Sound.
She was known as Tokitae by the folks who study the orcas and renamed Lolita at the Seaquarium. Although the oldest orca held in captivity, Lolita is still a young adult as female orcas are thought to live as long as 100 years.
For an animal designed to roam the seas in family groups, confinement in a small concrete pool has to be stressful and debilitating. Lolita's tail hits bottom when she tries to rise out of the water in a vertical position (spyhopping) as orcas do. Her endurance has been phenomenal, but she needs to be retired while still able.
The foundation hopes to reintroduce her to her family via a sea pen where she can make vocal contact, observe family members and choose whether to rejoin them or remain in human care.
You can help by appealing to Seaquarium to release its star attraction.
Write to Arthur Hertz, Miami Seaquarium, 3195 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Miami FL 33134. Fax 305-361-6077 Phone 305=361-5705
It would also help to write to Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas,
111 NW 1st Street, Miami FL 33128 Fax 305-325-3618 Phone 5017
Donations may be sent to Tokitae Foundation 920 Meridian Avenue #2,
Miami Beach FL 33139
November 7, 1999
Shedd Aquarium has lost four belugas in seven years
The death of a baby Beluga five weeks after birth renewed scientific and humanitarian concerns over keeping cetaceans in captivity. With so many fine films depicting whales and dolphins in the wild, the primary reason remaining for keeping any of these intelligent creatures captive is to raise money for the aquariums.
Raising whales in captivity does nothing to propagate their species because whales born incaptivity lack the knowledge and training that would enable them to survive in the wild
September 19, 1999
The power of concerted action described by the Russian
official who set up the beluga flesh deal with Japan:
"The international reaction is very, very negative," said Valentin
Y. Ilyashenko, chief of the Directorate for Protection of
Biodiversity, who initially approved the hunt. "The insignificant
revenues we can get from selling white whale meat abroad are
incomparable with the wave of growing indignation in the world."
International law prohibits the commercial hunting of large whale
species, but the approximately 15-foot beluga is not covered by the
ban because of its smaller size. Until now, whaling nations had
observed a moratorium on commercial hunting of all the smaller
species.
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Effect of US Navy's Low Frequency sonar on whales
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