Whale Protection

One thing that makes the blue whale unique is the fact that it is the largest animal that ever lived on the earth. They can be up to 94 feet long. They have a blue gray skin with small white gray spots. They can weigh about 120 tons. More than often, the female blue whales weigh more than the males. Another amazing thing about the blue whale is the size and weight of their hearts. A blue whale heart can weigh about 1,000 pounds.Didn-t catch that? This explains it.

The sounds that the blue whales makes are very loud. They are considered … More

Imagine weighing 145 tons and eating enough to maintain your size, while having no teeth. The baleen species of whales contain some of the most enormous animals on earth, yet they have no teeth. This is the primary difference that sets baleen apart from toothed whales.

Instead of teeth, they have baleen plates comprised of keratin. This is the same substance that human nails and hair are made of. Baleen consists of hundreds of long, rough bristles that hang from … More

Beluga whales, one of the smallest species of whales, are known as “White Whales’ because of their unique color. Unlike most whales, beluga whales can actually turn their heads in all directions because of their flexible necks.

Belugas are social mammals, living together in pods, and communicate with their social groups with a complex language filled with clicks and whistles. In addition to the usual beluga whale language, these graceful animals can also mimic a variety of other sounds, prompting the small whales to … More

The name Killer Whale is pretty menacing, but the animal really is not—at least when it comes to human beings. Killer whales, also known as orcas, eat fish and marine mammals, just like sharks or many other species of whale. Though orcas kill a lot of animals to survive, it shouldn’t be a surprise—after all, an average-sized orca needs 550 pounds of food per day. Though there have been instances of trainers being harmed by killer whales in captivity, there is no recorded instance of a killer … More

The gray whale gets it’s name from their dark gray skin and white and grey patches on their skin from scars made by parasites feeding on them. The gray whale’s main source of food is benthic crustaceans found on the ocean floor. The largest part of their population is located in the Eastern Pacific. They can grow to over fifty-two feet and weigh more than thirty-six tonnes. Mother gray whales, or cows, carry their newborns for about one year. The newborn comes out tail … More

If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of all things oceanic you might want to bookmark the national Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) webpage for information on a wide array of topics specific to your area of interest.The organization dates back to 1807and has evolved to meet the needs of a changing country by staying current on issues such as:

• Oil and chemical spills
• Marine protected areas
• Coral reefs
• Marine debris
• National Marine Sanctuary System
• State of the Coast Natural Resource Restoration Coastal Ecosystem Science
• Tides and currents
• Hydrographic surveying

Additionally, the organization is involved with … More

There’s no better time to make a statement about environmental and species protection than at Christmas, and there’s no better way to do it than a donation to an organization that is involved in activities that you support. With economic times being as tough as they are these days, more and more people are less likely to “fuel the retail machine” choosing instead to spend their hard-earned dollars in a way that will truly make an impact. Instead of paying retail mark-up on products a cash donation to an organization such as the World Wildlife Fund will assure that 82 cents of every dollar donated goes toward conservation isn’t that preferred over 80 retail markup? We think so. Also, the World Wildlife Fund has been recognized by Charity Navigator, and meets the BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s Standards for Charity Accountability. And if you get your donation in on time you can typically receive a gift card well in advance of Christmas morning so you can present your gift in true holiday style. Money is needed every day of the year, but if you want to pool your gift funs into one resource this year, there’s no better time than the present!

SeaWorld is an aquatic theme park with locations in Orlando, San Diego, and San Antonio. Depending on which location you visit, you can enjoy rides such as Journey to Atlantis, The Great White, and the Kraken. However, while the rides are exhilarating, there’s nothing quite like the whale shows.One act that consistently plays at all three locations is the Shamu Show: Believe. Watch as Killer Whales jump and flip in the air, as well as interact with their trainers and fellow whales. From sliding along the watery stage, to soaking the visitors in the splash zone, Believe lets visitors admire the beauty of Killer Whales. … More

Animal Planet offers the best series for animal lovers everywhere. But since 2008, one show has taken particular focus in the public eye. “Whale Wars” follows the efforts of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to put an end to illegal whaling- with a particular focus on Japanese whaling.Captain Paul Watson and his crew have three ships for their expeditions, the Steve Irwin, the Bob Barker and the Ady Gil. The last of these ships is a recent addition, and easily, their best ship. The Ady Gil had “twin 540 horsepower engines and stealth radar-scattering paint” (“Whale Wars” site). The Ady Gil sank after impact with a Japanese ship earlier this year, but no one was seriously harmed. … More