On The Rampage w/ Don Lichterman discusses the Full Moon happening this week while featuring 'A Whale of a Week' with Sam Waterston and more, the Recipe of the Week, Rams / Saints Matchup and The 'Call', the latest The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2, The Libyan Model, who cares about Joe Biden Gaffs and more things are discussed today!
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Sam Waterston: Join Oceana to Save North Atlantic Right Whales from Extinction
North Atlantic right whale populations first crashed due to whaling until hunting this species was banned in 1935. Now the right whale is on the brink of extinction mostly due to threats from commercial shipping and fishing. Today, only about 400 North Atlantic right whales remain, including fewer than 100 breeding females. To reverse course, North Atlantic right whales must be protected from fishing gear entanglements and ship strikes. Reducing the amount of vertical lines from fishing gear in the water and requiring ships to slow down can help save North Atlantic right whales.
Oceana US and Canada Team Up to Save North Atlantic Right Whales
North Atlantic right whale populations first crashed due to whaling until hunting this species was banned in 1935. Now the right whale is on the brink of extinction mostly due to threats from commercial shipping and fishing. Today, only about 400 North Atlantic right whales remain, including fewer than 100 breeding females. To reverse course, North Atlantic right whales must be protected from fishing gear entanglements and ship strikes. Reducing the amount of vertical lines from fishing gear in the water and requiring ships to slow down can help save North Atlantic right whales.
The devastating impacts of captivity on orcas have been published in a recent report which will serve as an indispensable tool to help end orca confinement and exploitation. This comprehensive report compares empirical data gathered from both wild and captive orcas to demonstrate the detrimental effects of captivity on this complex, intelligent species.
The Harmful Effects of Captivity and Chronic Stress on the Well-being of Orcas was authored by prominent researchers including Lori Marino, Naomi Rose, and Ingrid Visser. This report covers a breadth of information regarding orca whales, who are known to have complex needs due to their “evolutionary history, brain anatomy, physiology and cognitive-behavioral characteristics.” The data includes patterns of morbidity and mortality of orcas in captivity which support the argument that their complex needs are not met in confinement, and indisputably asserts that captivity simply doesn’t work for this species.
The report is jam-packed with data illustrating the harsh reality orcas face in captivity, including the impact on their immune system, dental health, and behavior. The authors expand upon this by describing how life in a tank can cause chronic stress, which influences all aspects of their lives. The authors review the social stress that captivity causes, along with the stress of confinement, sensory deprivation, lack of control, and boredom. Abundant evidence is utilized to argue that morbidity and mortality of orcas in captivity is likely to be caused by these stressors.
With the extensive empirical evidence covered in this report, it’s undeniable that a life in captivity is unsuitable for orcas. So, what’s next?
Although the orca captivity industry may be growing in some places of the world, it is showing signs of decline in North America. There have been two significant victories recently, with Canada banning cetacean captivity and a major travel agency ending sales to SeaWorld.
However, the industry persists due to companies like SeaWorld continuing to hold many orcas captive. To end this cruel industry, plans to create a seaside sanctuary for those currently held in captivity must be fostered and supported, and all breeding and captures need to end around the world.
Due to the hard work of these authors, we now have irrefutable evidence contained within one report that will be extremely difficult for SeaWorld or any other pro-captivity corporations to challenge. This pivotal tool will aid in advocacy efforts to end captivity, once and for all.
Three Orcas Presumed Dead this Summer
Three starving Southern Resident orcas have been missing and are presumed dead. Now, only 73 individuals remain in this critically endangered orca pod. Join Oceana to help save these starving orcas: https://bit.ly/2kyNITF
The debate over marine mammal captivity has only intensified in the years following the tragic death of trainer Dawn Brancheu in 2010 at the SeaWorld Orlando park. Despite an overwhelming amount of research and advice from scientists that conveys just how detrimental captivity is to the wellbeing of such sentient creatures, there are still dozens of orcas that remain in captivity.
There are currently at least 62 orcas held in captivity around the world, but with countries like Russia and China continuing to discreetly capture these animals and keep them away from the prying eye of the public, I’m not sure how capable we are of ever knowing exactly how many remain in captivity, or how many have perished over the years.
We do know that in the 15 years that followed the new wave of live-capture and export in the 1960’s, at least 134 orcas were captured in U.S. waters alone. A number of them died during the violent and traumatic capture process, and more than half of those that made it to captive facilities have since died.
Our impact on orcas over the years is hard to ignore, whether in captivity or in the wild. These five orcas are some of the most notorious captive whales that have lost their lives because of humans.
1. Keiko
Source: davidkrug/Shutterstock. One of the most famous orcas to ever exist, the one who inspired a generation of young children as the star in Free Willy. Keiko was 1-2 years old when he was captured from his home waters in Iceland around 1980. He made his rounds throughout a number of captive facilities, first at an amusement center in Iceland, Marineland in Canada, and a facility in Mexico where he remained until he was 19.
Warner Brothers began filming for Free Willy in 1992 but because they were unable to film at US captive marine parks they wound up in Mexico casting Keiko in a leading role. In a not incredibly surprising twist, following the release of the film, fans wanted to know the status of Keiko and why he wasn’t being released back into the wild. After all, that’s what happens to his character Willy in the movie.
In 1995 under pressure from the public, Keiko was moved to a facility at the Oregon Coast Aquarium where he could have the time to adapt to clean water again, gain weight, heal his lesions from the Mexico City facility and learn skills necessary for a release back into the wild. After 3 years of rehabilitation, Keiko was brought to Klettsvik Bay in Iceland and remained in a sea pen. Over time, Keiko was allowed to venture out into the open ocean as a guided boat kept a close eye on him. In the summer of 2002, Keiko journeyed nearly 1,000 miles on his own and, based on documentation, was healthy and feeding on his own. Sadly, in December of 2002, he passed away from acute pneumonia in the company of staff who had been caring for him over the years.
To this day Keiko remains the only captive orca that has been released back into the wild and the controversy surrounding his release has never faltered.
2. Luna
In 2001, a young wild whale was separated from his family L pod off the coast of Canada. Only a year old and without his own kind, the orca began to seek out the boats full of humans around Nootka Sound. For five years tourists flocked to the area to interact with Luna while the Canadian government battled with marine facilities and animal rights groups to determine the best solution for the whale.
Sadly, without a resolution in place and the public disregarding notice to not actively engage with the whale, Luna was ultimately struck by the propeller of a tugboat he had been interacting with and passed away. Although he is the only whale on our list that was never captured and taken into captivity, his death was ultimately at the hands of humans.
The public could simply not resist interacting with a friendly whale, and certainly didn’t spend much time considering the impact it might have on a wild animal to become so habituated to humans until it was too late.
3. Tilikum
Source: Benny Marty/Shutterstock. Captured from Icelandic waters in 1983, Tilikum spent much of his life in captivity until he passed away in 2016 at approximately 36 years old. The focal point of the documentary Blackfish, the controversies surrounding Tilikum sparked a massive public fall-out of the captive industry, specifically of SeaWorld parks.
Over his years in captivity, Tilikum was responsible for the deaths of 3 separate trainers. It was the death of Dawn Brancheau, a SeaWorld trainer in 2010, that sparked the documentary that was ultimately released in 2013. The contention over Tilikum remaining in captivity, interacting with trainers and being bred for the captive program lead to a number of changes – including the ending of the SeaWorld breeding program in 2017.
Tilikum, like all captive orcas, suffered immensely in captivity. We can study each incident and the behavior associated with them to discern why the deaths happened the way they did, but it’s clear to most that the quality of life provided in the captive setting was not enough… and sadly, three innocent lives were lost in the process.
4. Valentin
In 1982, two orcas were captured from Icelandic waters and shipped to Marineland Antibes. Over the years, the female orca (Freya) was bred repeatedly, but only one of her five pregnancies resulted in a successful live birth. The orca born into a life in captivity was named Valentin. He spent at least 19 years in captivity at Marineland as an entertainment attraction for the public before his death.
In October 2015 deadly storms swept through the southern coast of France, causing severe flooding and extensive damage at Marineland Antibes. Many reports from witnesses detailed animals being found dead after being forced from their tanks during the storm and the tanks holding the orcas being littered with mud and debris.
Although Marineland denied the reports, photos taken of the facility following the storms showed a heartbreaking scene. In the days following the devastation, the oxygenation and filtration systems in the park weren’t functioning properly, causing water quality to plummet. On October 12, Marineland confirmed reports that 19-year-old Valentin had died from a sudden bowel twist. Although no direct connection between the flooding and his death were ever made publicly, one has to question the impact it had on the health of the ocas.
5. Lolita
Source: Kamira/Shutterstock. Lolita, the only orca on our list that is still alive today, has lived the vast majority of her life in captivity. Lolita was captured in 1970 and sold to the Miami Seaquarium shortly thereafter. She has not had a companion since 1980. To know orcas at all is to understand how complex they are, and to know that an orca was taken from her family at the age of four and has spent her life alone in a concrete tank that offers her minimal shade and is just 20 feet at it’s deepest is truly heartbreaking.
There are many organizations that have fought Miami Seaquarium over the years to improve her captive conditions. Others continue to fight to relocate her to a sea sanctuary where experts can work to locate her pod or, at the very least, allow her to live out her remaining years in a more natural environment.
For as many who support moving Lolita, there are an equal number of critics who believe the move would be too much for her and could have a negative impact on her overall health. Whatever the right decision for Lolita may be, her life in captivity will remain one of the most devastating.
SeaWorld to Salvation: New Film Reveals Hope for Captive Orcas
Despite intense backlash from Blackfish, a film released in 2013 that sent SeaWorld's stock into a tailspin, not much has changed for the orcas held captive there.
Now a new documentary, Long Gone Wild, aims to provide an in-depth look at the case against captivity.
Freedom is finally on the horizon for the 10 orcas and 87 beluga whales who have been held captive for months, some since last summer, in Russia’s Srednyaya Bay. Last week, the Russian government began moving eight of the 97 cetaceans. All 97 animals are expected to be returned to the Sea of Okhotsk (approximately 1,100 miles away from the “whale jail”), where they were originally captured.
Charles Vinick, executive director of the Whale Sanctuary Project, provided Russian officials with advice from an international team of scientists on the best way to transport the animals without harming them. “While they are not able to follow all of our recommendations, we hope they can follow as many as possible,” Vinick told the BBC.
The news comes months after PETA and its affiliates, The Whale Sanctuary Project, conservationists, directors, and actors, including Pamela Anderson, urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to rehabilitate and release the animals back into the open ocean. “Thank God things have started moving,” Putin reportedly said last week during a televised phone-in. Had the Russian president heeded our plea last year to call off the cetaceans’ initial capture, there’d be no need to coordinate their release now.
“Will you ensure that Russian orcas and beluga whales are protected and halt plans to take them from the Sea of Okhotsk?” Anderson asked Putin on behalf of PETA U.S. in an urgent letter sent one year ago.
Although we’re pleased that Russian officials are now freeing these animals from their “whale jail,” they shouldn’t have been captured in the first place.
According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Gordeyev, the country hopes to learn from its “whale jail” disaster—the Russian government has plans to clamp down on a law that allows the capture of cetaceans for “educational and cultural purposes.”The change would mean an end to the Russian commercial trade in cetaceans.
Originally published on April 10, 2019:
Great news! Relief is coming for the nearly 100 whales and orcas who have been held captive for months, some since last summer, in Russia’s Srednyaya Bay. After pleas from dozens of celebrities, conservationists, and members of the public, Russia signed an agreement today with a group of international scientists, including Jean-Michel Cousteau, to release the mammals back into the wild. Scientists have committed to developing a release plan for the whales by next month.
The agreement includes the construction of a special rehabilitation facility for the whales that will mimic their natural environment and act as a treatment facility for any of the injured or sick animals.
Original post published March 19, 2019:
Time is running out for more than 80 beluga whales and 10 orcas who are being held captive in Russia’s Srednyaya Bay. And a dedicated group of actors, directors, and conservationists have had enough.
“We cannot stress enough that the lives of these whales are in danger, and they need immediate help,” reads a letter sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin signed by over 30 members of the entertainment and environmental communities. While orcas can travel up to 140 miles a day in the wild, this group of captive cetaceans has been imprisoned in severely crowded cages that are, at most, 27 meters long by 15 meters wide since last summer.
This ongoing story has captured the attention of advocates across the entertainment industry as well as famous conservationists and philanthropists. Actors Pamela Anderson, Holly Marie Combs, Adrian Grenier, Kate Mara, Edward Norton, and Maisie Williams—who has spoken out in the past against SeaWorld’s captive-cetacean programs—have all signed their names in support of these animals’ right to live freely. Directors Gabriela Cowperthwaite and Louie Psihoyos, who advocated for captive marine mammals with their documentaries Blackfish and The Cove, as well as primatologist Jane Goodall and marine expert Jean-Michel Cousteau have also signed their names in support of the efforts to return these whales to the ocean.
This is not the first time that honorary PETA U.S. director Pamela Anderson has reached out to Putin about this issue. In the summer of 2018, she urged him to call off the initial plan to capture these wild animals, which would subject them to a miserable life in captivity. The whales’ plight also received significant attention after actor and environmentalist (and Beyond Meat investor!) Leonardo DiCaprio tweeted his support for their release.
In addition to asking that the animals be released back into the Sea of Okhotsk, the letter requests that the government give them more space to swim and to address the temperature and stagnation of the water to prevent ice buildup while they remain in these holding cells and notes, “These steps are critical for the whales’ survival.”
“THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR RUSSIA ON THE WORLD STAGE. THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR A HAPPY ENDING IN THIS TRAGIC AND UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.”
Animals already being held captive at marine parks here in Asia need your help. Please don’t visit marine parks, zoos, or aquariums because as long as people continue to buy tickets, animals will continue to suffer.
It breaks my heart to share with you that we may have lost two more orcas in the Pacific Northwest.
J17 (known as Princess Angeline) and K25 have not been spotted in weeks, and experts fear the worst. Both orcas appeared to be near starvation at last sight.
Southern resident orcas are in a life or death struggle. We need you with us to double down on our efforts to save this population from extinction.
Princess Angeline is the mother of Tahlequah (J35), the southern resident orca who lost her baby at birth last summer. You may recall she then carried her dead calf on her head for 17 days on a "tour of grief."
And K25, a young male, has been deteriorating ever since he lost his mother in 2017.
These orcas are starving to death. Outdated dams across the region, particularly four dams built on the Snake River, are drastically depressing numbers of Chinook salmon, the orcas' main source of food. Salmon populations have crashed since those dams were built.
Making matters worse, these orcas also struggle with water pollution. A deadly mix of chemicals, including pesticides, industrial solvents and other poisons wash into the Salish Sea (including Puget Sound) when it rains. In fact, these orcas are among the most contaminated marine mammals in the world.
We'll do whatever it takes to end this crisis – are you with us?
We can't bear to see any more of these at-risk orcas lost to starvation and pollution. We're working with local and national officials to stop deadly water pollution, restore salmon habitat, and remove barriers to spawning for these whales' primary food source.
Orcas are extraordinary animals. They nurture their young, mourn their dead, and use language to communicate. It's heartbreaking to see them suffering.
I know you want to help. Please help today to save the wildlife we love.
Japan's whale hunting "research" has always been a sham. But now that they've left the International Whaling Commission, there's no one checking their actions.
It's whaling season again in Japan, but this year they've taken their annual massacre of whales to a new level. Rather than dodge the rules and exploit loopholes in the international ban on whaling, Japan simply left the International Whaling Commission altogether. Without this nominal oversight, their already legally dubious whaling operations will go unchecked.
Humans have already nearly hunted whales to extinction. That's why countries banded together 73 years ago to stop the industry before there were no whales left to kill. But Japan has lived on the edge. Each year, Japanese whaling vessels marked "RESEARCH" in all caps and English, have killed dozens of whales. This so-called "research" ends with whale meat being sold for profit, revealing itself for what it truly is: just another means of hunting.
Without the imprimatur of belonging to the International Whaling Commission, Japan has increased its commitment to kill whales. This year, they plan to kill 383 whales.
The international community can't allow Japan to put whales' survival at risk.
Sign the petition to demand Japan end their annual whale hunts and recommit to a real ban on international whaling.
And, more than 180 gray whales have been found dead since beginning their epic annual spring migration north, and there is no end in sight.
Many of these whales are emaciated, a likely sign they are slowly starving to death and didn’t get enough to eat during their last feeding season. The crisis is already so dire that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared it an Unusual Mortality Event.
Gray whales are just the tip of the iceberg. These heartbreaking deaths are a signal the greater ocean ecosystem is in trouble. The stakes are sky-high for the entire Pacific and Arctic coast ecosystem and all the marine life that call it home.
Without a healthy ocean ecosystem and food web, gray whales and other marine life will continue to starve and die. No organization is better positioned to fight for the health of our oceans – off the U.S. West Coast and around the world – than us.
As the largest international organization focused solely on protecting the world’s oceans, we work along gray whales’ entire migration route – from their calving grounds off Mexico to their feeding grounds off Alaska’s Arctic coast.
By reducing overfishing, protecting critical habitat, stopping the expansion of offshore oil drilling in the Arctic and advancing science-based ocean management, we’re making progress.
Secured landmark protections for hundreds of forage fish species – including krill, smelts, lanternfish, squids and silversides – that support the diets of whales and other vulnerable marine life.
Secured emergency fishery closures so sardines – whose population size crashed by 98.5 percent since 2006 – can recover, and sea lion pups won’t go hungry. Safeguarded more than 140,000 square miles of fragile seafloor habitat from the disastrous impacts of bottom trawling.
Defended gray whale feeding grounds and migration routes from expanded offshore oil drilling and exploration in the Arctic and by passing legislation in California and Oregon.
This science-based progress happens because Oceana Wavemakers like you refuse to back down. Wavemakers like you come together to support our work every step of the way. It’s that passion and dedication we’re counting on again to make the difference for gray whales and all wildlife that call our oceans home.
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