A Silent Soliloquy: A Report on Whales

What do you think of when you think of the ocean? Amble waves? Starfish? Beautiful coral reefs?

How about a blue whale? For thousands of years, whales have roamed all of the major oceans of our world. They have been hunted since their discovery and have been deemed the largest known creatures to have ever existed. These tender giants used to exist in large numbers such as 30,000 to 300,000 per species, but now, due to numerous factors – they have been deduced to approximately 11,000 per species. To humans, the number 11,000 as a population is considered a small to midsized town such as Katy, Texas. In reality, however, this dwindling number is frightening. All species of whale are either endangered or very seriously threatened.

Why are they endangered?

Japan steals hundreds of whale’s lives every year. These murders are justified under an “institution” called The Institute of Cetacean Research. The ICR claims to be killing unspeakable amounts of whales for “research” but this claim has yet to be supported by any facts whatsoever. Who is letting these merciless murders continue? Why hasn’t anyone shut down the ICR? Perhaps it’s because after it is shut down, a new institute would open up and the process would repeat itself. Governments (such as Australia) and environmentalists have been calling the ICR on their bluff, but no positive progress has been made - meanwhile whales continue to lose their lives.

We can’t just blame corrupt Japanese corporations or illegal whaling on the decline of these creatures. Global warming, which we all play a part in every single day, is threatening plankton blooms. This decrease in blooms affects the entire baleen whale community. All baleen whales consume at least 40 million krill a day. How fast will this number also decrease? What could this mean for the baleen whales?

To say we know little about whales would be an exaggeration - which is why, I’m sure, that the Japanese can use the “research” excuse so freely. Regardless, extensive knowledge of these creatures is not worth killing them, nonetheless endangering them all together.

Without our interference, whales can live up to 30 years old. If we don’t act soon, all known species of whales could disappear from our planet forever. We may possibly be the last generation to live in a world that is shared with whales. We cannot let our generation fail these helpless creatures as previous generations have.

How to Begin Helping the Whales:

Become a Cyber Activist for the Whales!

http://www.madmermaids.com/stop_whaling_cyber_activist.html

Adopt a Whale!

http://www.whalecenter.org/component/content/article/17-roknewsrotator/146-whale-adoption.html

Learn about/donate to Whale Conservational Organizations:

http://www.wildaboutwhales.com.au/whale-conservation/conservation-organisations/

Most Importantly:

Spread the word. Discuss the importance of whales with your friends and family. Make them acknowledge the importance of whales on both the Earth and in your heart. Thank you.

-Hunter

Welcome to the Family: Meet Some of the Newly Discovered Species of 2010

Meet the Histiophryne psychedelica. A newly discovered antennariidae, meaning - scary-looking fish that creeps around and eats things. This 'Psychedelic Frogfish' creeps around on it's pectoral fins and feeds mostly on small fish and shrimp Being a lophiiformes, it's scaleless and covered in charming - but deadly - protective mucus.














This seemingly adorable, pokemon-looking slug creature was given the name Aiteng Ater this year after being discovered off of the Gulf of Thailand. This Gastropoda was named after a shadowplay puppet used in Thailand. It's diet consists of mainly insects and lacks gills and a cerata.







Move over, King Kong - there's a new king of the jungle. The Tyrannobdella rex (or, tyrant leech king) likes to crawl up your nasal cavity and gnaw at your brain. This seven-centimeter long beast was discovered this year in the Peruvian Amazon. It's hobbies include climbing inside of your orfaces, enslaving roundworms to do their bidding, sucking your blood and eating your brain! ... I think I prefer King Kong.





That Peruvian brain-eating worm kinda freaks me out, so it's time for some comic relief. This charming new species of bat is referred to as the "Yoda Bat". It was discovered during a scientific expedition to Papua New Guinea and identified as a tube-nosed fruit bat. Might I also add that it was given a very scientific name. The Yoda bat, like other fruit bats, is crucial to it's environment because of the fruit seeds that it... disperses.






Yet another candidate for a new pokemon, this adorable little guy is being temporarily called 'purple octopus'. It was said to be discovered in a"very alien area"(off the coast of Canada, lol) - the validity of this species calls for further speculation and investigation. But, if I may be so bold as to make a suggestion - I believe we should call it Squishysquishius marginatus.





This recently discovered, but speculated monkey - is allergic to rain (and apparently staying alive). The sneezing snub-nosed monkey is currently being poached in Myanmar, leaving conversationalists paralyzed with fear! This monkey's hobbies and interests include eating tiny pieces of grass(rumored), getting eaten by locals and doing Michael Jackson impressions. ... (someone had to say it.) I think the name sneezing snub-nosed monkey is a little bit too vague. I believe that it should obviously be named Michael Jackson in honor of his passing and because of the fact that he loved monkeys almost as much as conversationalists claim to.