Beluga Whales, Michael Phelps & Aquariums
Allya the Beluga whale at an aquarium in western Japan has
learned to blow bubble rings. In the wild, some dolphins and whales blow bubble
rings by inhaling air through their blowholes and releasing it through their
mouths underwater. But thanks to scuba diving equipment, Allya can do it
anytime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbVv3XLA55k
Allya clearly loves interacting with her audience. She aims the bubbles at
spectators as they peer in through the glass.
OR is she really just doing another trick for food? Is this fair to the whale? Does this provide an opportunity for people to see and educate them on whales that they wouldn't have seen otherwise? What do you think? Let us know. Did you know that Beluga Whales are Endangered?
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/beluga_whale.php
On April 19, 2007, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposed to
list the Cook Inlet beluga whale as endangered
under the Endangered Species Act*. However, on April 21, 2008, NMFS gave itself
another six months to issue a final decision. Defenders and other conservation
groups oppose this delay in providing further protections for the struggling Cook Inlet beluga population. Press
release.
In April, 2006, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature,
(IUCN) added the Cook Inlet beluga to its "Red
List, "classifying it as "critically endangered." In May 2000 NMFS listed
the Cook Inlet beluga whale as depleted under
the Marine Mammal Protection Act**.
* The Endangered Species Act requires the US federal government to identify
species threatened with extinction, identify habitat they need to survive, and
help protect both. In doing so, the Act works to ensure the basic health of our
natural ecosystems and protect the legacy of conservation we leave to our
children and grandchildren.
** The Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits, with certain exceptions, the
take of marine mammals in U.S.
waters and by U.S. citizens
on the high seas, and the importation of marine mammals and marine mammal
products into the U.S. Michael Phelps Wisdom - for another (humorous) point of view...
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/michael_phelps_returns_to_his_tank 
|
