Pp. 219-239 in Anderson, S. and J. K. Jones, Jr. Orders and Families of Recent Mammals of the World. John Wiley and Sons, N.Y.686 pp. 3. Feldhamer, G. A., L. C. Drickamer, S. H. Vessey, and J. F. Merritt. 2010.
The Pan-American Highway Project recently unearthed a bunch of old bones, which were initially found by construction workers. The bones were turned over to scientists, who discovered that the large bones were part of the skeletons of over 40 marine animals. The bones belonged to animals like seals, aquatic sloths, and even an extinct species of sperm whales. These creatures are thought to have been killed off nearly 10,000 years ago.
Turning points can challenge your life at times. It can make your life better or worse. This idea comes up in Hatchet, a fiction by Gary Paulsen, Guts, a non-fiction by Gary Paulsen, and Island of the Blue dolphins, a fiction by scott o’dell. These stories all have turning points that affect them in the same way, doing so, they change their lives and things around them.
Imagine, a 22.5 feet long killer whale that weighs 12,000 pounds, slammed and dragged a person in the water who only weighed 125 pounds. The image is gruesome but that’s what happened to SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau. A respected 40 year old who fought hard to stay alive against the largest orca in captivity. Accordingly to witnesses Tili (short for Tilikium), the Orca went wild during the Dine with Shamu Show, then attacked and killed Dawn. The event shocked everyone because Orcas are usually very friendly but Dawn Brancheau was the third victim of Tilikium.
The invertebrates that form the gray whales primary prey are restricted to shallow water environments, but global sea-level changes during the Pleistocene eliminated or reduced this critical habitat multiple times. Because the fossil record of gray whales is coincident with the onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation, gray whales survived these massive changes by adapting their feeding habits. When continental glaciers locked up vast quantities of the earth 's water, ocean levels dropped up to 400 feet. This transformed what is now the sea bottom into wind-scoured steppes. At the height of the ice age, most of the modern gray whale food source would have been high and dry, and yet, the whales survived.
The movie Blackfish is a documentary about Orca whales and their abhorrent treatment throughout SeaWorld’s history, detailing how the whales should be freed from their enclosures and sent back into the oceans where they belong to protect not only themselves, but to the trainers and visitors of SeaWorld as well. Blackfish revolves around one Orca named Tilikum, at 12,000 pounds he was the dominant one at SeaWorld. However, Tilikum’s public murder of three trainers changed the way people looked at SeaWorld. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite released a documentary in 2013 titled Blackfish detailing SeaWorld’s horrific treatment of its marine animals, especially the Orcas, in captivity. Ms. Cowperthwaite’s vision of Blackfish entailed “reaching
Stuck in a cement container that’s only eight meters wide for 14 long hours a day, practically motionless. That’s how his circus life began. Tilkilim, also known as Tili, was torn from his mother at the age of only two (A Killer Whale Gone Very Bad). He would spend 14 long hours in an eight-meter-wide enclosure with two park female killer whales, who viciously bullied him (A Killer Whale Gone Very Bad). Now today, he spends most of his time alone, drifting lifelessly in a pool at Orlando’s Seaworld (A Killer Whale Gone Very Bad).
I think that underwater noise does not affect whales. The U.S. Navy has used sonar for about 50 years. Since they started, the Navy has not seen any difference in the way whales live. In the article "What Underwater Noise?" the author states "but they did not change their overall behavior. "
When the two sides come together, the argument boils down to one major point, should we “Free Willy?” Those who side with the whales, whether their reasons be emotional or defended with welfare standards, feel that the whales should be released back into the wild or into private coves3. The opposing side makes valid arguments against the release of the currently captive whales. Currently captive whales were either removed from the wild at a young age, albeit in a cruel way, or they were bred in captivity11. The point in discussing this issue is not to address the cruelty of taking an animal from the wild, or to argue whether or not breeding programs are successful or appropriate.
The creatures of the ocean blue have been commercially harvested by humans for economic gain for centuries. One in such organism that was commercially fished and killed would be the various species of whales. Many of the species were pushed to the brink of extinction in some cases, and yet Japan still wants to remove the international ban of commercial whaling. The whalers of decades ago saw whaling as a machismo act of brutality that increased their overall manly self esteem. Although, within in the video A Life Among The Whales, the scientist explains that in his various experiences while swimming with whales, he was never injured by one and that they were quite serene, calm creatures.
Captivity: the condition of being imprisoned or confined. Orca whales in captivity make up 70% of Sea Worlds revenue. While children and families across the country pay to see Shamu, they are actually funding one of the cruelest money corrupt corporations in the world. Between the mistreatment of the whales themselves, and the multiple injuries and deaths of the trainers; keeping Orca Whales in captivity are not worth the risk. The positive aspects of capturing and mistreating whales do not outweigh the dangers.
Everyday all around the world whales are being kept in captivity against their will. Sure, attraction parks such as Sea World are an amazing experience for everyone. Every child wishes to experience large mammals up close doing acrobatics, splashing, and interacting with the trainers. However, whales are not choosing to participate. They are being forced, and rewarded with food, love and attention.
Humpbacks are baleen whales that use bristles to filter their food out of mouth fuels of seawater. Their diet consists mainly of plankton and krill, as well as small schooling fish. Whales, include the largest animals in all of life on Earth, and are a curtail part of the ecosystem today. They have high metabolic demands and when they were in larger populations, before industrial whaling, whales would have had a strong influence on marine ecosystems, even greater than today. They play several environmental roles including, consumers of several species, prey to large bodied predators, reservoirs of nutrients, and detrital sources of energy and habitat in the deep sea.
It is a common misconception of natural instinct and imaginative onlookers; these whales are not people they are wild marine life. It is no secret that killer whales have a bad reputation, however what earned the reputation was sheer unintentional killings. Orinus Orcas are wild marine life that should not be prosecuted like human beings, and the name “Killer Whales” is the result of false
Capybaras, the largest rodents in the world. Maybe you know some information about capybaras, or maybe you’ve never heard of one before. Regardless of your prior knowledge, today I will teach you all about capybaras. First, I will be describing a capybara for you. Then, I will tell you where capybaras live.
