Posted on 08/19/2010 9:31:23 PM PDT by nickcarraway
It turns out the whale that tried to beach itself off Maui earlier this week is an extremely rare species. Experts have determined that it's a Blainville's beaked whale.
This species is so rare there isn't even a count of them in the wild, because they live far offshore in very deep water. The female whale is now at a facility in Hilo.
Scientists there have been running blood tests and found some abnormalities with her kidneys so they're treating her with antibiotics. The whale has been on a squid milkshake diet, but she's starting to eat whole squids.
"These whales they don't have teeth, but they suck the squid from the water column and we have observed her doing that with these whole squid that we have been offering her. Now she's treating them a lot more like a toy right now, than food, but she does seem interested" said Dr. Jennifer Turner of the Hawaii Cetacean Rehabilitation Facility in Hilo.
Officials at the facility have been getting questions on how to volunteer or donate money. You can donate by visiting http://www.dolphinrehab.org
Cool. What’s the best way to cook one?
Ceviche. You just need a really large lemon.
One whale cannot be a “species” unless it is the last one of its kind.
They live far off shore. They live in very deep water. And they aren't even counted.
So explain just how they are determined to be "so rare"?
A rare whale has abnormalities, big surprise.
How do you make a squid milkshake? It must take a special kitchen appliance......
I wonder what brand of blender the whale rehabbers prefer?
Can’t you just see the TV ad? With Ron Popeil or Shamwow guy?
“Now maybe you won’t be interested in fixing squid shakes in your VitaMix 2000, but we can assure you that it’s up to the job...
Call the Sea Shepherds - they will ram a boat or two, throw some acid bottles, and save that whale's life!!!
An especially hyper-specialized species. No wonder it’s rare.
Evolved to live exclusively on squid. No teeth, it slurps them up without chewing. Definitely a narrow niche player.
I was outraged when I first heard of the Sea Shepherds and their extra-legal activities.
Then I actually saw some episodes and was amused and reassured.
You should instead be outraged by the Japanese and their illegal activities.
According to the rules, they can harvest such-and-so-many Minke Whales (not endangered) ostensibly for research purposes.
The argument here is that Japan’s taste for whale meat has all but died out and this ridiculous harvest of theirs is 100% paid for by the Japanese taxpayer. The comments I have read elsewhere is that the stuff is fed to convicts and impoverished college students.
I’m not certain that’s correct - most of the “research” ends up in fish markets and there is demand for it.
The Japanese are exploiting a loophole that should be closed. The Sea Shepherds are sadly incompetent. Bob Barker should ask for his money back.
The Sea Shepherds might have accomplished something if they only had acquired two ships that were fast enough to outrun the opposition.
Rather than two sixty-five year-old whale chasers could they not have purchased and outfitted two ex-Soviet destroyers? With turrets, torpedo tubes, antennas and missile mounts removed they might have had something that could have run rings around the Japs rather than struggling ineffectually to keep up with them.
***So explain just how they are determined to be “so rare”?***
They aren’t cooked?
Not that wikipedia is that reliable, but apparently these are “relatively common”
Great research there, journalist..... I suppose this writer thinks a super soaker is an “assault” weapon.
Paul Watson likely dreams of having a warship with all the war accoutrement in place and functional to use on the whalers. The grabass between them would end after sinking the whalers. the Japanese could respond by sending a couple of modern Aegis destroyers that would deliver the pinko-leftist whackjobs to Davy Jones locker in short order.
Whaling would then go on un-interrupted. Felix gum is good!
They really are amazingly incompetent. But I still hope they stop Japan from whaling. And they do have a TON of supporters. Some with lots of money.
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