Shooting endangered whales with a crossbow

Torturing Whales, pretending protection, is just wrong,
Wounding, leaving opportunities for infection.
"up to 100,000 whale lice parasites can occur per whale"

Katie had her babies shot at by non-humans ?
Such is the use of tax dollars.
Can't these biology goofs pull the wings off of a fly, just for fun ?

Franko, really? The efforts of these scientists are geared toward preserving the uniqueness of this species, as evidenced by the large body of work done by scientists employed in wildlife conservation.
Your assertion of torture is based on what evidence? I suggest leaving the inflamatory accusations unsaid. Conservation science is too important for frivolity.

A big thank you to Katie and others working on conserving the biological diversity of this planet. Hope to see more of us out in the field doing the work that needs to be done.

I hope they are gathering genetic material from the whole population. The advancements in cloning may be the only way to save these whales. I hope they can recreate/ repopulate the species in the future, but the technology will have to make significant advancements for that option to be viable. Unfortunately, there needs to be a large enough gene pool to propagate a species and not create lethal recessives.

These "scientists" are pulling off another hoax; - How do you top
Saving the Polar Bears, by cooling the climate, for research funds ?

Proof is in the DNA, "Secrets of the Whale Riders "
Perhaps, as recent as 1 million years ago, interbreeding of North and South
Not good news of a Mr. RightWhale breeding more research funds

"Isthmus of Panama, separating the Pacific and Atlantic. That set up warm equatorial currents that kept most blubber-laden right whales from crossing the equator because they could not tolerate the warm waters"
This is the same problem that causes Ice Ages
Very warm Equatior; a blocked car radiator, blocked Gyre heat transport,
Get those Biologists digging for reserch grants, widening the Panama Canal

My son had the recent experience of being on the waters in the coast of Florida, capturing pics....quite awesome to view these giant creatures.....
It turns my stomach as well to 'dart' the whales...isn't there a better method that can be designed to get the same result?
Better some care than none I guess....

Dr. Kraus - Whale enthusiast
"In any event, interbreeding is a slim hope. Artificial insemination "probably is not possible," Dr. Kraus said, and while it might be possible to move a whale or two on ocean-going barges, "that is pie-in-the-sky kind of stuff.""

Is it so expensive, to bring a few, from South, up North ?
Would be a good tourist attraction (maybe more research grants)

It always amazes me when people who know nothing of conservation methods want to tell the experts how to run a program!
You see the same thing when they have to cull elephants in Africa, kill wolves in Alaska, or cull whitetail deer in New Jersey.
What these people are doing with the whales is not harming them, but possibly extending the life of the species.
If you want to protest something, grab your picket sign, head for Japan and protest their killing of whales by the hundreds under the guise of 'scientific study'. They are truly endangering the whales!
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Franco, although you seem very knowledgable, I think you miss a very large point. The human population has done a great injustice to this planet. When private citizens and governments invest money to better understand these creatures, they effectively gain skin in preservation of our planet. That is a good thing...... Although you see babies, it maybe more accurate to say the best time to do this work, is when the whale is the cleanest (at birth). I think you understand that these people are not pretending, but are attempting to better understand these animals. The more we know, the more we care. All good things. More over we have to assume that a whale has more to fear in this world than a paper cut.

Amen to that GreyGhost...

Everyone shoulkd go over to Animal Planet and watch Whale Wars to see just what the Japanese whalers, in disguise as researcher do. That will show you the difference between a researcher(ie, Katie and her associates) and someone working towards decimating whales. Sea Shepards are awesome. Instead of complaining Franco...go donate to the Sea Shepards who are also doing a lot of good to save the whales from extinction.

Eric in Aurora, IL

Possibly a fall back career for Palin?

The video " Animal Planet and watch Whale Wars " goes on and on
British accented people, helicopter, speedboat, partying, vegetarian diet on ship, one practicing some kind of martial art - will check further on µTube ?

Mother cow and baby whale, why stress them out ?
See a bear, throw things at it, makes the bear mean

Whales, what kind of intelligence ?
Chimpski could language basic wants, how whales different ?

I think some of you are becoming upset because of the picture of the lady holding tht huge metal object.

That is not the tool used to collect the DNA sample. It is the grappling hook that is used to catch the whales and free then from the entangling fishing ropes. You are getting over excited for no reason!

Recent Whale Wars news - footage worth $20 million
Seized by Australia - Give Watson credit for masterful publicity

How will Japan reply ? Sneak into U$ land cow slaughter houses ?