bsumner
Contributor
I will simply state that, in my opinion, the Japanese behave barbarically when it comes to whale and dolphin slaughter.
Whale Wars
- Thread starter dk2943
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elmer fudd
Contributor
I think the thing that most Americans don't comprehend about Japanese whale research is that it's aims are nothing like that of most other countries whale research. It is real research, but that research is intended to prove that whale stocks are adequate for renewed commercial whaling. Part of the reason for taking up to 1000 whales a year is for evidence that this, (and more), is a sustainable harvest. When they measure the stomach contents, etc... it's all intended to show the health of the population, their food stocks, etc... with the eventual aim of resuming commercial whaling.
When we think of whale research we tend to think of naturalists and marine biologists working on research grants. The Japanese researchers are more akin to scientists employed by private industry to bring a product to market.
When we think of whale research we tend to think of naturalists and marine biologists working on research grants. The Japanese researchers are more akin to scientists employed by private industry to bring a product to market.
It's OK to believe this in Hawaii, but don't try it in the Rockies.
Don't startle them.
Don't get between them and the cubs.
Don't even be anywhere around them when they come out of hibernation.
Read Grizzly Maze. It's about a guy who believed as you do.
Art
I grew up in the Rockies.
My family lived for an entire summer at the West Yellowstone KOA Campground. On Saturday nights it was a regular event to go to the West Yellowstone dump and watch the Grizzlies dig through the trash. Dozens of cars in a semi-circle with high beams on. Do you remember how the Flintstones went to the drive-in and put the kids on the roof; I've sat on the roof eating popcorn like many other kids.
I've also been on a solo dive when a Tiger Shark cruised by. I went towards it with my camera outstretched. It evidently thought I was protecting my octopus photo subject and turned to flee.
I have worked around the Arctic Circle as a Oil and Gas exploration surveyor up to "break up." I have stood within yards of dens where you could see the vapor puffs of the slumbering bear's breath coming out the vent holes. Girls were not allowed on that job due fears the menstrual cycle would wake them, but the native women were in the bush regularly; Exxon may have been a little clueless. I have taken photos of Griz tracks near the slightly unfrozen streams on our path.
Did you know that after hibernation a bear needs to restart it digestive tract with a mostly vegitarian diet for quite some time. Meat is not on the diet when they just come out. Moose were the only animals that caused production delays on that job.
I've surveyed in the bush around the Chuitna River during the Silver Salmon run. I've looked in my instrument eyepiece to see my rodman's rod falling to the ground as he ran to the nearest big tree. We heard bears crashing through the bush every day but the yearling Golden Eagles and Moose were the only animals that scared most of us on that job. The no-see-um's were the only animals that actually hurt us.
I will jump into the water with any toothed whale when I get my chance!
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I wonder how people in the US would react if activists started throwing butyric acid at butcher shops or ramming cattle trucks because they want to stop the slaughter of land mammals.
Cattle in religion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cattle in religion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is ludicrous. Honestly, what scientist needs to take a sample of 1000 whales a year to ascertain whether a population is dwindling, or not. It's akin to harvesting Orange Roughy, or Toothfish to ascertain stocks. The quantitative science they do is purely a smokescreen for:
A. Keeping a sector of the fishing business from total collapse due to lack of interest
B. The illusion of scientific legitimacy
C. Being total dicks
What would truly be embarrassing is being a cetacean scientist and coming home to my wife and kid(s) at the end of the voyage and explaining what I did for a living. But then again - it wouldn't be too hard as you've already sold your soul off to the highest bidder a long time ago. Look em' square in the eye and tell em' how many guts you analyzed, carcasses you flensed and how many heart you lanced with your probe.
X
drdiver1952
Contributor
elmer fudd
Contributor
No more ludicrous than killing millions of mice, rats, dogs and monkeys in the name of research. Whether or not you like or condone their methods, they are doing research. Personally, I find primate research more distasteful and the number of primates used in research in the US each year dwarfs the number of whales killed by all countries combined. I guess that makes us total dicks too, but of course that goes without saying since like Japan, the US is one of the only countries that continues to hunt whales and guess what, we have teams of researchers there to measure the same kinds of things the Japanese researchers do.
The USA does kill whales, but not by hunting them like the Japanese to my knowledge; is that your claim? The US NAVY is responsible for many whale deaths all over the world and there are many conservation groups pursuing not only the future safety of whales from the US NAVY but some justice for past actions.
What you're saying is off your own topic. You said Japanese whaling researchers use different parameters/metrics, or driving philosophies to measure viability, or sustainability. At the end of the day the work has to be scientifically legitimate. Taking 1000 whales is a large sample...especially if it's done every year. Taking a smaller, measured sample of individuals would probably indicate trends - without pressuring a species. 1000 whales = mucho yen and making even on fuel, ship and personnel costs - should you be able to sell the junk. Which they aren't able to.
The data should indicate whether or not whales can be hunted at sustainable levels. Not mice, not monkeys. While it's still off the topic - the US has been out of the whaling game for a while when it became clear that the depleted numbers of whales made it impossible for the US whaling industry to reap profit.
As per dicks...the Japanese whaling industry, and to a large extent the collusive government are dicks. I know having dealt with them in the past. At the end of the day it's all about money - not about scientific legitimacy. The US is also hypocritical in that the big fat wallet used to talk about whale killing - nothing more than a buck, or greasy yen at the end of the day.
X
I have no experience with toothed whales.
I am eagerly awaiting my first tiger encounter that doesn't involve a shark feeding.
However, grizzlies are a different story. They are plentiful in Glacier and British Columbia. I've always backpacked in griz country but I have tried to be careful and use my head. I have had surprise encounters and had no bad experience but I am aware that I won a crap shoot, too. If you do see them during the salmon spawning run, you are pretty safe since they are much more interested in the fish than they are in you.
But I'm quitting before the mods accuse me of hijacking.
Art
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