Lolita, living in "fish bowl" of a tank...

You may have read one of my posts about Lolita on here before, an Orca who is living in the Miami Seaquarium. (See September 14, 2010's post for more info on Lolita).

Briefly, Lolita is living in a tank that is entirely too small for her. There are many people trying to help "retire" Lolita, as her original pod is still being tracked. I would like to share an amazing video, about Lolita and her story, here. Please watch this, I promise you- you will come away with more awareness about the living conditions of this gentle creature, and many of the other animals at the Miami Seaquarium. This video is from www.savelolita.com, a website which helps promote her survival.
Watch the video HERE.

Today, I came across an interesting link, from "Without Me There Is No You". This is a blog, that pointed out some GREAT points about Lolita's tank, and a letter that was written to The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which is the governing agency that oversees marine mammals in captivity. Please follow this link to read this blog to see what the APHIS had to say in response to this letter- about Lolita's tank- because I think you will find it shocking. I sure did. The link to the blog is HERE.

I think the blog ended with some great tips of what we CAN do to try and help Lolita. I will list them here.
Thanks www.savelolita.com, and to "Without Me There Is No You"!

List From, "Without Me There Is No You"

What Can You Do? (To Help Lolita?)


1. Write, call or email APHIS. Send a Freedom of Information Act request asking them for the proof that Lolita’s tank is legally sized.

USDA APHIS Animal Care: ace@aphis.usda.gov
USDA/APHIS/AC
4700 River Road, Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234 Ph: 301-734-7833

2. Boycott the Miami Seaquarium. Tell your friends, family, everyone you can to stay away from the Miami Seaquarium.

3. Educate yourself about Lolita. Spread awareness. Visit SaveLolita.com and Orca Network to learn about Lolita’s story and ways you can help.

4. Contact your local Congressmen and ask for their help to enforce the AWA.

5. Watch the documentary Lolita: Slave To Entertainment. Arrange for a screening at your local library, school, college, etc.

6. If you live in or near Miami, join the other protestors the last Saturday of each month from 12:00-2:00 outside of Seaquarium, located at 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway.

 Until next time....
 

The Real "Free Willy"

Here is a pic of the real "Willy" from the "Free Willy" movies, "Keiko". Here is in Iceland, where he was eventally released, upon the real "Free Keiko" movement. What a beautiful shot. This pic is allowed to be shared royalty-free, courtesy of Ric O'Barry''s website: www.savejapandolphins.org.

Sadly, Keiko did pass away in 2003 after his release. He was able to live about a year and a half officially in the wild. This is a picture of an outdoor ocean pen, which can be used to release captive animals back to the wild. So YES, it CAN be done... but more work needs to be done in this area.
If you are interested in the time-line of Keiko, from his capture to death, it can be found here. Very interesting.

Until next time....

The Whale Museum: Taiji, Japan.

So, where do the dolphins that are captured in Taiji, Japan go?
Some of them spend their lives in what is known as "The Whale Museum", which is located in Taiji.

Check out this link, to see the living conditions. They will shock you.
They go here....

This next video is one of the best videos I have seen done of what is happening in the cove, and also includes where these 3 dolphins that you saw in the above link ended up (The Whale Museum). I will add a disclaimer that the footage is graphic, yet important to see nonetheless.

You can find that link here.


Until next time....

Amazing.

WATCH THIS.

This video was sent to "The Cove" site on Facebook, by a Japanese couple living in Tokyo. They heard about what's happening in the Cove, went to Taiji, and were inspired to make this animation- which tells the story from the perspective of a dolphin.This clip does have English subtitles. 

Truly amazing.


Until Next Time...

Good News

Good news, from the desk of Richard O'Barry, asked to be shared.

We have come far.

We still have a long way to go.

Let us celebrate our successes.

Let us not forget our challenges.

Thank you everyone for every little thing you may have done to support the positive things we can celebrate. A person you share "The Cove" story with. A news story you read. A moment of your day you pause to think about our marine friends. A dolphin show you vow not to attend. A petiton you sign. A blog, like this, that you read. Thank you.

And now, From Ric O'Barry....


Until Next time.....

It's getting to be that time....

Happy Holidays everyone... from my home to yours!

Whatever holiday you may celebrate, I hope that it brings happiness to your heart, and a smile to your face.

Until next time....

Made my day!

Wow. What amazing photos, and what a breath of fresh air. These amazing photos were taken by my friend, Lindsey D. Fisher, who has a real art for photography. Words just can't describe real whales in the the wild. These pics were taken in California.

 Photo courtesy and copyright of Lindsey D. Fisher.  

 Photo courtesy and copyright of Lindsey D. Fisher

This pic is believed to be of a Minke Whale. 

You can purchase prints of Lindsey's work here.

Seriously, check it out. 

Read her bio, look around at her portfolio, this girl has talent. 

Thanks again for the awesome shots of whales in their home, Lindsey D. Fisher! It's exactly where we want to see them, and exactly where we want people to enjoy them! 

You rock!

Until next time...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there!

I'm thankful for the opprotunity to learn more about our ocean friends.

I'm thankful to be able to share that knowledge and information with others.

And, I'm thankful if it just changes the way ONE person views how keeping whales and dolphins in captivity can negatively harm them. Because even reaching one person is one person more than it was before.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, shared with family, friends, and loved ones!


Until next time...

Getting Ready for the Holidays?

Many people getting ready for the holidays this time of year... looking for some ideas for gifts?

Well, you could donate in someone's name to a great cause, Save Japan Dolphins at Earth Island Institute.
Go ahead and click here to learn more about to donate. Just click on the "click here to donate" button. Easy!
ALL DONATED FUNDS GO TO EFFORTS TO STOP THE KILLING OF DOLPHINS AND WHALES.

What else could you give someone for the Holidays?
Well, I'm always trying to spread the word about "The Cove", so I highly suggest that to anyone. (adults and teenage only). Such an important message to spread.

(Here's me with my very LOVED copy of the film)

Lastly, for a great film showing our dolphin and whales in their natural home, a film has just come out by Disney that I truly enjoyed. This film is great for kids and adults alike, and there is also a great picture "coffee-table" like book that you can as well! This film is truly amazing, and shows our children the importance our oceans really have on the earth... and taking care of them and all sea animals. The film, is called "Oceans", by: Disneynature. Awesome.

So, there you have it. Three great gift ideas for the holidays...for all different age groups, for all different tastes. Some to learn just of the ocean, some to inform of the cove, and some to help stop what is happening to our dolphins and whales.

Enjoy your holidays with your loved ones!

Until next time......

Let your voice be heard. It's your voice. Use it.

President Obama just left for Asia, and is scheduled to be in Japan the 13th and 14th of November. His trip is planning to include a meeting with the new Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

Prior to his trip, several organizations gathered together for a common cause, and drafted a letter to President Obama, stressing the importance of what is happening in Japan, and urging him to help us get the world out to Japan that the slaughter of dolphins and whales. President Obama's voice in this matter is very strong- and the facts that he can convey to the new Prime Minister of Japan.

The organizations that drafted the letter were:
Earth Island Institute
Animal Welfare Institute
World Society for the Protection of Animals
American Cetacean Society
Cetacean Society International
In Defense of Animals
Nantucket Marine Mammal Conservation Program
Orgami Whales Project
Peninsula Citizens for the Protection of Whales
The Whaleman Foundation/Save the Whales Again! Campaign

To read the letter, please click here, and go to the entry made on 11/5/10.

So, what can you do to help? YOU can contact President Obama and express your concern with what is going on in Japan. Write, email, call... do whatever you need to do.

To email President Obama, click here .

To write, the address is as follows:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

To call the White House, here are the numbers:
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414

To fax a letter, here is the number:
 FAX: 202-456-2461

And, to visit the White House website, go to:
www.whitehouse.gov

Let your voice be heard. It's your voice. Use it. 

Till next time....

Baby Dolphin Falls Out of Tank, Dies at Florida Marine Park.

 A baby dolphin died this past Sunday, at Gulf World Marine Park in the Panhandle area of Florida.
When reading the cause of death, I was shocked. However, we can add this to our reasons of why these animals should not be held in captivity.

The dolphin somehow FELL out of it's tank during the night, and passed away.
This is so sad, and makes me so angry.

I'm not sure on the dimensions of the housing accommodations for this little one, but he was apparently with his mother and 2 other baby dolphins and their mothers.

What made me even more upset? This is not the first time an animal has fallen from it's tank at this park. This just happens to be the first death.

Read more about the accident here.

Until next time....

Set Back in Taiji, Japan.

Rick O'Barry and his son Lincoln, are on ground in Taiji, Japan.
The plan was to have a PUBLIC discussion with the mayor of Taiji today, November 1, 2010- Mayor Kazutaka Sangen, along with local fishermen about the dolphin hunting that is taking place in Taiji. 

The meeting didn't go as planned... and O'Barry learned some disheartening news.

Needless to say, O'Barry is on his way now to where this whole mess began... The Cove.
Read about what happened, in O'Barry's blog, HERE.

Till next time... hopefully with better news...