How the First Orcas Were Captured and Sold to Marine Circuses
May 17, 2012 by Michael Mountain
In August 1970, TV cameras were on hand as seven orcas (killer whales) were captured off the coast of Seattle and taken to marine circuses like SeaWorld and the Miami Seaquarium.
Navy Sonar Will Impact More Sea Mammals
May 14, 2012 by Michael Mountain
Dolphins off the coast of Southern Calif. as USS Halsey conducts military exercise New Navy documents show that over the next five years more dolphins, whales and other marine mammals are be hurt by sonar off Hawaii and Southern California than in previous years. In its official estimate, the Navy says that sonar training and [...]
Swiss Dolphins Died of Party Drugs
May 8, 2012 by Michael Mountain
The two dolphins who died at a zoo in Switzerland last November had been drugged by partygoers. That’s the conclusion of an autopsy report that’s been leaked to the media. Shadow and Chelmers died days after the Connyland Zoo had rented out land near their training pool for a rave party attended by thousands of [...]
Another Gray Whale Freed from Fishing Tangle
May 7, 2012 by Michael Mountain
Yet another gray whale has finally been freed from being tangled in fishing ropes. (In March there was this one for a gray whale who was named Bart.) Nicknamed June, he was first seen caught up in 120 feet of rope attached to several buoys off the coast of Southern California three weeks ago. Rescuers [...]
Back to the Wild!
May 5, 2012 by Michael Mountain
After six years in a disgusting, insanitary pool at a dingy resort in Turkey, where tourists paid to swim with them, Misha and Tom will soon be free. (Update May 9th: It’s done, they’re free!) Tom and Misha were rescued two years ago by the British wildlife charity Born Free, which found that the pool [...]
Now Pelicans Washing Up in Peru. What’s Happening?
May 1, 2012 by Michael Mountain
It’s bad enough that thousands of dolphins have been washing up on the shores of Northern Peru – 3,000 so far this year. Now we’re hearing that pelicans and other animals are suffering the same fate. Initially, scientists believed that the cause of death was sonar blasts from companies probing for oil. The oil companies [...]
Captive Orcas Killed by Mosquitoes
April 30, 2012 by Michael Mountain
According to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), at least two orcas held captive at SeaWorld facilities died from West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis viruses carried by mosquitoes.
Whale Wars Takes On the Not-So-Great Danes
April 26, 2012 by Michael Mountain
If you think the dolphin massacre at Taiji is a uniquely Japanese horror, welcome to the Faroe Islands of northern Europe. These picturesque Danish islands, inhabited by about 50,000 people who are descended from the Vikings, are the backdrop to what’s known as “The Grind” – Faroese for “whale drive”. Every summer, the people herd [...]
Barbie Doll Is SeaWorld Trainer
April 26, 2012 by Michael Mountain
How grotesque is this? Mattel’s latest Barbie doll is a SeaWorld trainer: With this Barbie I Can Be SeaWorld Trainer Nikki Doll and Playset Nikki doll wears her uniform wetsuit and waist pack where she can store fish food for the animals; a whistle and toy are additional training tools. The set comes with a [...]
Orcas Now Being Poisoned by Air They Breathe
April 25, 2012 by Michael Mountain
Scientists hold petri dishes over orca blowholes to capture samples of their breath. Photo by Pete Schroeder. It’s bad enough that the orcas of Puget Sound, off the coast of Seattle, are swimming in badly polluted waters. Now we’re learning they have a whole other challenge to deal with: air pollution.
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