Sometimes Life Throws You a Curve Ball...

Sometimes, things are out of our control and we just have to accept them.
I was looking forward to this trip more than anything.
Then, the FLU hit, and I was given the "no can travel" by my doctor... So, my Sarasota trip is off. :(
So, I'm stranded here, in my bed, sick... surrounded by the remains of a snow/ice storm no less.

Shout out to Al Cane from the blog, for sending this to cheer me up a few weeks ago- He spotted it around the corner from his local hangout, and realized he travels this road everyday! Thanks for the pic!

Well, I'm off to bed... until next time...

So Very Excited....

One week from today, I will be in Sarasota, Florida.

One week from today, will be my first chance, ever, to see a dolphin... in the wild. This could be my chance to see marine life- in their natural habitat... something I have NEVER witnessed before.

I have waited my entire life for this day.

I am so excited for the opportunities that lay before me in T-minus 7 days (almost 6 now! 15 minutes, although the time stamps on these blogs are always wrong for some reason).

You better believe I will be documenting my journey in photos, and sharing them here- on the blog.

Look out world...... one of dreams, (and bucket list items) is about to come true. Keep your fingers crossed for me everyone!

 Photo credit to Diver/videographer Steve "Finz" Finzelber

'Till next time... where I will hopefully be blogging from sunny Sarasota!

New SeaWorld Show to Open; "One Ocean"

I'm not quite what sure what to classify this under....  good news or bad news.
$eaWorld is starting a new show this year, but it's planning to keep the trainers out of the water.
As you'll see in my previous post, the death of a trainer at $eaWorld last year brought a lot of attention. So much infact, that the park was not allowed to have trainers in the water with the orcas.

One thing I do know, is that according to an article by Barbara Liston, for Reuters.com, it was reported that the new show "will dazzle with colored lights, panoramic LED screens displaying video of sea life, and surround sound, all with an underlying thrust of educating guests about environmental conservation". This was reported by a SeaWorld employee. 


Lovely. Just what we need. Dazzling lights! LED screens! Surround sound! Because I'm sure that's EXACTLY what these whales are used to in their natural habitats, not to mention the many other unnatural stimuli they receive each day. I believe the worst part about that reported piece is there seems to be this theme that they SEEM to believe they are educating guests on environmental conservation. How the heck is their pony parade environmental conservation? How is taking animals from the wild, conservation? And, explain to me how breeding with a violent whale, to produce more whales that will never be released to the wild- but are only being used as profit... how is this environmental conservation?

Originally, I had heard that they were going to have a ROCK BAND performing in front of the whales. Yes, because I can see how that noise wouldn't be frightening to them. In more recent articles, including this one, there is no mention of a rock band... so that remains yet to be seen. 


Oh, and FYI- Tilikum, or "Tilly", the whale involved in the death of the trainer last year.... IS in rehearsals for this new "production". Great. First, performer. Then, labeled "killer". Then, used to spawn more whales.... now, performer yet again. Poor thing.

You can find the full Reuters.com article about the new show, HERE.


Until Next Time...

$ea World to Reopen "Dine With Shamu"

$eaworld plans to reopen it's "Dine With Shamu" program this spring, starting with the first park being in San Antonio, Texas on February 26th. The program has been closed for about a year following the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau, by a killer whale named Tilikum. "Tilly", as he is called, is a 12,000-pound whale that pulled Brancheau underwater during one of $eaworld's "Dine With Shamu" programs... as visitors were present.

According to an article by CNN.com, written on 1/14/11, "after Brancheau's death, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined SeaWorld $75,000 for three safety violations, including one classified as willful". You can read the article in it's entirety, HERE.

"Dine With Shamu" programs at Seaworld San Diego, California, and Orlando, Florida will open later this spring. "Tilly", will not be used in the program... initially. He resides in a seclusion tank, since the incident. $eaworld has, however, used his sperm for artificial insemination with other whales in the park...

This piece of info just enrages me.
According to an article by CBS News.com, it stated that, "on The Early Show Saturday Edition," a former SeaWorld trainer who worked with Tilikum for seven years said letting [him]  out to sea isn't possible, and observed that there's "no better place for Tilikum than SeaWorld.  Jeff Ventre, who's now a physician in New Orleans." The article also said the following, "SeaWorld is said to have Tilikum insured for as much as $5 million, and Ventre said, "He's worth millions, and he represents the future of the breeding program for SeaWorld. He has impregnated - he's produced 13 calves, I believe. I think ten are still alive. I haven't been in the game for a long time. That's a guess, but those are the numbers that I think are accurate." 
You can read the article in it's entirety, HERE.

This makes me sick. First of all, Tilly has been involved in not 1, but 3 human deaths. We CAN not, and SHOULD not blame a wild animal in these deaths, because he is just that. A WILD animal, who should not be held in captivity in the first place. So, if we already know that Tilly MAY be an aggressive whale, (I say "may" be, because WHO knows- if he was actually allowed to be in his natural environment, maybe his actions would be different). I don't know how he relates with other animals. That research is yet to be done- on my part, and I need to see if that research even exists. Anyway, if we know he is an aggressive animal, WHY use him to mate with other whales? Is aggression a desirable trait we want to pass on to future generations of whales?

And here's an idea? Why don't we STOP keeping animals in captivity in the first place? There is argument  that by breeding in captivity, they (Seaworld and other marine parks) are not taking whales from the wild. Well, I can see the big picture here. YES, we are not taking whales from the wild, but I have an idea... work with me here... let's LEAVE those whales in the wild... and NOT breed additional whales as well! WILD animals DO NOT belong in CAPTIVITY. Look at the size of these creatures. Look at the deaths, both of the animals- and now human lives? When is enough ENOUGH? You read the quote above... "He's worth millions" (talking about Tilly). Is this about "education" as this parks claim? Doesn't sound like it there, does it? Sounds like big dollar signs to me.

I don't know... eating lunch next to a whale who is stuck in a bathtub, eating dead fish, doing mundane tricks? I don't know about you... but that just made ME loose my appetite.

Check out Tilly's home. Nice 'eh? Ugh.

Until next time....

Hearts for Lolita, 2/13/11

This Valentine's Day, people are coming together to show their love to one of the loneliest Killer Whales on the planet! Lolita has been a "slave to entertainment" for over 40 years and has spent 3 decades of that time without another member of her species for companionship in the oldest and smallest whale tank in the world.

This event, called "Hearts for Lolita", is being held as a effort to show your love for this  gentle and courageous soul. Many have asked that Lolita be allowed to retire from the industry, sea pen in her native home in waters off Seattle’s coast be secured for her. It is here that her family is still tracked, and lives without a member of their pod... Lolita.

WHEN: Sunday Feb 13, 2011 – 11:00am – 6:00pm
WHERE:
Miami Seaquarium
4400 Rickenbacker Causeway
Key Biscayne, FL 33149

NOTES:
*Parking is free in the beach lots on either side of the park!
*Please feel free to show up at any time and leave at any time throughout the day.
*Unable to attend in person? Show your love by calling these following numbers, voice your concerns, and politely ask that they retire Lolita to a sea pen in her native waters!

Miami Seaquarium
(305) 361-5705

Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Office
(Mayor Alvarez)
(305) 375-5071

Village of Key Biscayne City Council/Mayor’s Office
(Mayor Caplan)
(305) 365-5511

USDA APHIS Animal Care: ace@aphis.usda.gov
USDA/APHIS/AC
4700 River Road, Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234
Ph: 301-734-7833
Fax: 301-734-4978

*International supporters please follow the step above and add to it calling your local US Embassy Consulate with your opinion! It does count and has to be recorded!

Thanks everyone, and thanks to www.savelolita.com for the information above.
You can find information about the event, and other events that go on just about every month at the Miami Seaquarium, for Lolita- HERE.

How Awesome is This?!

SW 74th Ave in the City of South Miami is now Richard O’Barry Drive.

How cool is that?

Check out the full article, with pics, here

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....