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Pastimes : Where the GIT's are going -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sandintoes who wrote (6710)	7/10/2000 5:24:01 PM
From: Puna	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 225578

<<Was this done in an aggressive manner, is it meant as a threat, or staking out territory as animals do?>>--We are not sure, that is why we document these behaviors. <<How close are you allowed to get to the whales?>>--As gov't registered research vessels we have no limit but we are always very gentle with all boat movements within close range, often just sitting quiet or driving slowly. <<When we were snorkeling, I think we were much closer than we were suppose to be.>>--The boat captain likely new the whales would cruise into the spot he picked for you snorkel. Another old guiding trick is to position the boat with engines off where either some distant whales are heading towards or else where the tide drift and wind will move the boat onto the whales. <<What are they planning on doing with this study?>> --1) This particular study of the Humpbacks amazing songs is only a small part of a broader understanding of their behavior. Each piece to the puzzle helps formulate the whole Humpback species picture. The information will be published as such. --2) Show that peoples research donations are accomplishing a better understanding of whale population and behavioral patterns<grin>. --3) Some countries are still lobbying for the taking of many whales. The more in-depth knowledge we have on them the better prepared we are to counter such action; whether as to numbers of whales or unique qualities they have. For instance, the Gray whale population that migrates annually from Southern California & Gulf of Mexico to Alaska and the Bering Sea have recovered from only a few hundred in the 1930's (after severe hunting in previous decades) to around 26K now. Some countries felt that hunting them should be re-opened. The thing is, historically; research shows there were also two other large Gray Whale migrations that were completely decimated from hunting. One along the East Coast and one up & down the coast’s of Japan to the Bering Sea. To open hunting to Gray's just because one of the migrations has shown a strong comeback against the odds is foolhardy. Humpbacks are showing some signs of strengthening but because they are crossing oceans and are still hunted illegally by whalers, they are at much more risk than the Grays who hug the shoreline of three countries that protect the species. Humpbacks in Hawaiian waters are fairly new actually. There are no records of any being here before about 200 years ago. In addition, the ones that did arrive here to birth and mate were slaughtered unconscionably soon after their arrival. Hunting only slowed because they were not enough left to warrant the expeditions. Ironically, most of that hunting was done out of Lahaina where we conduct most of the research today. We have about six thousand Humpbacks return annually to Hawaiian waters. Humpbacks are also showing a more coastal presence now along the coast of Washington and British Columbia. There are no solid #'s of the total population. Anyway, the more we know the better we can understand and respect our fellow mammals. Kinda like people eh! Puna