I never knew whales ate like that… and pretty much every other animal shown here.

How Animals Eat Their Food [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

“The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man” – Charles Darwin

Whale Shark Seeks Help [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

New York, NY – The beached whale that washed ashore and died in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York will be buried in the sand dunes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The whale, which passed away Thursday morning, cannot be easily moved from the scene of its death because National Park equipment that would typically be used was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

NOAA spokeswoman Allison McHale revealed that the whale’s carcass would be transported on Friday to the sand dunes of the beach where the whale died. A high water line at the site of burial will help to prevent erosion, said McHale.

The Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to loan the type of equipment required to transport the whale carcass. The National Park Service and New York City Sanitation will join forces to remove the creature. McHale detailed more of the plans for dealing with the dead whale:

“The necropsy will then be conducted either tomorrow or Saturday, depending on when the whale is moved.”

The whale was first discovered on Wednesday morning, with McHale describing how the creature was “emaciated and in poor physical condition.” The NOAA concluded that nothing could be done to save the stranded creature. At the time the whale was discovered, Nick Ecock of Point Breeze Volunteer Fire Department told CNN:

“We thought it was dead when we arrived, but then it started moving.”

Burying a beached whale is not usual procedure, as McHale revealed:

“In the past they (have) been buried on the beach, disposed of in a landfill, or towed out to sea.”

Here’s a New York Post report on the plight of the beached whale:

Beached Whale In New York To Be Buried In Sand Dunes is a post from: The Inquisitr

A sperm whale in Florida waters lost its life hours after a swimmer was spotted riding the creature.

The Daily Mail reports that the whale was seen drifting off the coast near Pompano Beach on Sunday while witnesses watched in concern. Blair Mase Mase of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told a local television station that the mammal was most likely so close to the shore due to illness or injury.

Most of the people on the beach were hoping for a positive outcome for the whale, which was seen floating as close as 40 feet from the shoreline. That was not the case with two swimmers who were allegedly seen by a bystander to be harassing the mammal.

According to NBC News, Margie Casey, a 49-year-old resident of Pompano Beach, claims she witnessed both swimmers approach the whale twice. Watching from her fifth-floor balcony, she was able to photograph one of the men getting on top of the distressed creature. Casey says that she felt the whale was still alive at the time due to movement by its tail.

Sperm whales, the largest of the toothed whales, are an endangered species. Although the exact cause of the whale’s death has not been determined, it is against federal law to harass marine mammals. The NOAA plans to look into the incident involving the swimmers, saying:

“This type of harassment could have caused more harm and added stress to an already stressed whale and ultimately caused its demise.”

What do you think about the swimmers’ possible harassment of the dying sperm whale?

Sperm Whale: Swimmer Seen Riding Mammal Before Its Death is a post from: The Inquisitr

Charges have been brought against a New Jersey man for allegedly smuggling and trying to sell the tusks of narwhal whales.

The Associated Press reports that federal Environment and Natural Resources Division officials have charged Andrew L. Zarauskas with conspiracy and money laundering. Zarauskas, 59, was arrested Friday at his Union, New Jersey home. His charges stem from what prosecutors cite as his alleged attempt to sell illegally imported tusks.

An article in The Bangor Daily News writes that along with the New Jersey man, three other individuals are connected to the plot. Prosecutors allege that Zarauskas, Tennessee resident Jay Gus Conrad, and two Canadians conspired to smuggle the narwhal tusks into the United States through the Milltown Port of Entry in Calais.

All parties were indicted last month by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to import merchandise, conspiracy to launder money, and smuggling goods. The defendants’ first court appearances have not been scheduled and it’s not clear if any of the men have retained legal representation. Each suspect could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Known for their unusually long tusk, narwhals are medium-sized toothed members of the whale family. Comparable in size to the beluga whale, they are native to the Arctic and can have a lifespan of as much as 50 years. They are currently protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Are animal rights important to you? What do you think should happen to the New Jersey man charged with smuggling narwhal tusks if found guilty?

New Jersey Man Charged With Smuggling Illegal Narwhal Tusks is a post from: The Inquisitr

A popular female orca will remain in captivity due to a judicial ruling on Thursday.

The orca, named Morgan, was discovered in the summer of 2010 off the northwestern coast of the Netherlands, reports Digital Journal. The whale, who was suffering from emaciation, was captured in the Wadden Sea and taken to Dutch aquarium Dolfinarium Harderwijk.

The original premise was to care for Morgan until she was healthy enough to be released into her natural habitat.

However, the aquarium went on to advise that Morgan was not suitable to be returned to the wild. In November of 2011 a Dutch court backed their assessment, deciding that the orca should be transferred to Loro Parque, a theme park in Tenerife, Spain.

The court approved transfer of the whale, issuing an export license on the grounds that she would be used for “educational purposes”.

Morgan’s supporters have fought hard for her release since she was first captured. The Orca Coalition, a group of marine wildlife experts, argued that the female whale is frequently attacked by other orcas at the park. They also claim the park is violating the export license by teaching her new tricks, according to Dutch News.

Thursday a judge in Amsterdam ruled that the theme park is not in violation of the export license and that the whale’s health had not been jeopardized.

As reported by Grind TV, Wietse van der Werf of the organization Black Fish, a part of the Orca Coalition, commented on the new ruling:

“We are very disappointed with this verdict, to say the least. It is a tragic day for Morgan and a tragic day for marine wildlife in general, which continues to be over-exploited and threatened, often within the realms of the law.”

Do you think orcas and other animals should be kept in captivity by zoos and aquariums?

Popular Orca Morgan Will Remain In Captivity After Court Ruling is a post from: The Inquisitr

A 40,000-pound whale was found dead and decomposing near the Malibu beach homes of Hollywood celebrities on Thursday.

According to NBC News, officials have been trying to figure how to deal with the huge carcass and the horrible smell.

Kevin Marble of the L.A. County Lifeguards told Malibu Patch:

“It’s not physically capable of being moved because of its condition. It’s so embedded in sand that they won’t be able to get it out. The body will be pulled apart.”

The young fin whale’s carcass was found on Monday morning. Veterinarian’s with the California Wildlife Center later determined that the whale died from what looks like injuries from a ship striking it.

Marble said that burying the 40-foot-long whale carcass could be a possible option on how to get rid of it. However, the whale carcass would have to be moved somewhere else since it now sits in a rocky area. He said, “It has to be exhumed and moved and buried.”

California State Parks has also been involved in the process, but they have yet to come up with a plan on what to do with the whale carcass.

Pars spokesman Craig Sap told Malibu Patch:

“We don’t have a boat. We don’t have the resources to drag it off the beach.”

Seeing as how “it’s on a private beach,” the L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors have said that they are not responsible for the disposal of the whale carcass.

The whale washed up between Paradise Cove and Point Dume. The private beach is near the homes of Barbra Streisand and Bob Dylan.

Fin whales have been listed as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act. The whales can grow to up to 85 feet long, weigh up to 80 tons, and live for up to 90 years.

The West Coast population of fin whales in 2003 was estimated at around 2,500. That number is 3,300 less than what it was in 1996, the federal government says.

40,000-Pound Whale Carcass Decomposing On Private Malibu Beach is a post from: The Inquisitr

…they will step away from your boat. (Unlike whales, who will bodyslam the hell out of boats.)

[via reddit]

If you ask a shark politely… is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to WAToday, the whale was killed by explosives detonated near its brain.

Why waste a perfectly good shot of sedatives and medicine when you have ready access to explosives

(img credit: ABC News/ DEC)

Sick whale euthanised…by blowing it up is a post from: The Inquisitr