November 17, 2011 Baleen

CaliforniaMama · 11-17-2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

The figures around whale watching are staggering. As well as the money involved, around 13 million people (a couple of million more than the entire population of Greece) from 119 countries go whale watching each year. Although it started in the 1950s it has only been the last decade in which whale watching has really developed, and has outpaced other varieties of global tourism considerably.

But . . .

This article questions whether or not whale watching is good for the whales. It sounds like the whales are feeling harrassed. Boats get too close, visit the same pods over and over, they linger too long, and some skippers actually run into the whales!

All of this stresses out the whales. Their respiration increases, their blood pressure goes up, they stop eating, don't nurse their babies well and the pods suffer.

It is amazing to think that such huge creatures are so sensitive to the actions of much smaller mammals (humans). We have machines and technology and that gives us the advantage.

The article asks if we are handling it well.

Lots of great pictures at Ark in Space.

Image Credit Flickr User lymang

HungLikeJesus · 11-17-2011, 10:43 AM

Well, just think how humans react to a mouse, or a spider or a bed bug.

BigV · 11-17-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

It is amazing to think that such huge creatures are so sensitive to the actions of much smaller mammals (humans). We have machines and technology and that gives us the advantage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

Well, just think how humans react to a mouse, or a spider or a bed bug.

Right.

Or a wasp or a bee. My late sister in law drove her car off the road and into the guardrail because a bee was in the car. She didn't die from the crash though. I doubt she was thinking about eating or nursing and her vitals definitely spiked into the emergency range.

footfootfoot · 11-17-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

Well, just think how humans react to a mouse, or a spider or a bed bug.

Especially if they had been harpooning us for a few hundred years. That'd get my BP up.

footfootfoot · 11-17-2011, 10:49 AM

and another thing, What ever happened to the Jefferson Airplane?

footfootfoot · 11-17-2011, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

and another thing, What ever happened to the Jefferson Airplane?

C'mon people. Bueller? Anyone?

Trilby · 11-18-2011, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

and another thing, What ever happened to the Jefferson Airplane?

and I'm in love with you again.

sigh.

I just can't stay mad at you footy.

richlevy · 11-18-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

and another thing, What ever happened to the Jefferson Airplane?

Funny, when I saw that title I was thinking of Marty too.

Pete Zicato · 11-28-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

and another thing, What ever happened to the Jefferson Airplane?

They got old.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-30-2011, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

and another thing, What ever happened to the Jefferson Airplane?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Zicato

They got old.

They became Starship, and then got old.

glatt · 11-30-2011, 08:20 AM

"We Built This City" has got to be one of the worst songs ever. Starship is but a mere shadow of Jefferson Starship, which itself is a mere shadow of Jefferson Airplane.

Clodfobble · 11-17-2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

Or a wasp or a bee.

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Especially if they had been harpooning us for a few hundred years. That'd get my BP up.

Those fuckers have been harpooning us. But in their defense, they haven't been stealing our fat and turning it into perfume and tiny bee lipsticks.

ZenGum · 11-17-2011, 04:19 PM

Whale watching is insurance against the resumption of commercial whaling.

Suck it up, tubby, it's for the good of your species. Better to be gawked at than harpooned.

Aliantha · 11-17-2011, 04:37 PM

There are pretty tight restrictions in Australia on tour boats who are specifically targeting whale watching or any kind of eco tour boats for that matter.

I remember the last time we went deep sea fishing (which wasn't really all that deep, but that's what it's called) just outside Moreton Bay, it was whale watching season, and there were whales everywhere. At one stage we were drifting and fishing, and a large whale came up beside the boat. And I mean right beside the boat. We could almost touch it. It was amazing. We also got to watch some whales leaping into the air and all those sorts of things that most people only dream about seeing. It was one of those life experiences that will never leave me. We were very lucky that day. We caught heaps of fish too.

hipshot · 11-17-2011, 11:44 PM

It's a dolphin...

11-17-2011, 10:43 AM	#2
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Well, just think how humans react to a mouse, or a spider or a bed bug. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

11-17-2011, 10:49 AM	#5
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	and another thing, What ever happened to the Jefferson Airplane? __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

11-17-2011, 04:19 PM	#13
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Whale watching is insurance against the resumption of commercial whaling. Suck it up, tubby, it's for the good of your species. Better to be gawked at than harpooned. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

11-17-2011, 04:37 PM	#14
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	There are pretty tight restrictions in Australia on tour boats who are specifically targeting whale watching or any kind of eco tour boats for that matter. I remember the last time we went deep sea fishing (which wasn't really all that deep, but that's what it's called) just outside Moreton Bay, it was whale watching season, and there were whales everywhere. At one stage we were drifting and fishing, and a large whale came up beside the boat. And I mean right beside the boat. We could almost touch it. It was amazing. We also got to watch some whales leaping into the air and all those sorts of things that most people only dream about seeing. It was one of those life experiences that will never leave me. We were very lucky that day. We caught heaps of fish too. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-17-2011, 11:44 PM	#15
hipshot Enlarged to show texture Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 80	It's a dolphin... __________________ "When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car."

11-30-2011, 08:20 AM	#11
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	"We Built This City" has got to be one of the worst songs ever. Starship is but a mere shadow of Jefferson Starship, which itself is a mere shadow of Jefferson Airplane.

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