Naked Female Scientist Swims With Beluga Whales In The Freezing Arctic

Princess of whales: How a naked female scientist tries to tame belugas in the freezing Arctic (Daily Mail, June 16 2011):

Braving sub-zero temperatures, she has thrown caution — and her clothes — to the wind to tame two beluga whales in a unique and controversial experiment.

Natalia Avseenko, 36, was persuaded to strip naked as marine experts believe belugas do not like to be touched by artificial materials such as diving suits.

The skilled Russian diver took the plunge as the water temperature hit minus 1.5 degrees Centigrade.

Belugas are famed for the way in which their faces are able to convey human-like expressions. Certainly Matrena and Nilma seemed to enjoy frolicking with Natalia.

The taming of the whales happened in the Murmansk Oblast region in the far north-west of Russia at the shore of the White Sea near the Arctic Circle branch of the Utrish Dophinarium.

An area of the sea is enclosed to stop whales and dolphins getting out and instructors tame the mammals before they are transported to dolphinariums around the world — a practice many animal conservationists consider cruel.

Belugas have a small hump on their heads used for echo-location and it was thought that there would be more chance of striking up a rapport with them without clothes as a barrier.

The average human could die if left in sub-zero temperature sea water for just five minutes.

However, Natalia is a yoga expert and used meditation techniques to hold her breath and stay under water for an incredible ten minutes and 40 seconds.

Read moreNaked Female Scientist Swims With Beluga Whales In The Freezing Arctic

Radioactive Whales Caught Far From Fukushima

Radioactive cesium detected from 2 whales+ (AP, June 14, 2011):

KUSHIRO, Japan, June 14 (AP) – (Kyodo)—Radioactive cesium was detected from two minke whales caught off the coast of Kushiro, Hokkaido, in Japan’s so-called research whaling, a whalers’ association said Tuesday.

While the level of the radioactive material remained below the temporarily set upper limit, the association officials said during a press conference in Kushiro that the contamination must have been caused by the continuing nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant and that they will closely monitor future developments.

During the research whaling that started in late April, 17 whales were caught, and researchers examined six of them. Of the six, two were found tainted with 31 becquerels and 24.3 becquerels of cesium per kilogram of whale meat, they said.

The upper limit tentatively stands at 500 becquerels per kilogram.

Over 50 Whales Die After Being Washed Up On New Zealand Beach

Rescue volunteers continue efforts to save surviving pilot whales, which are described as being in ‘fairly poor condition’


Rescuers try to save surviving whales after mass stranding in New Zealand

Fifty-eight pilot whales have died after they were washed up on to an isolated beach in northern New Zealand. Rescue volunteers’ initial efforts to refloat 15 others that survived failed earlier today.

A fresh attempt to save the 15 beached mammals – which weigh up to 1,500kg (3,300lb) each – will be made early on Saturday, using machinery including a crane and transporter, said Department of Conservation acting area manager Mike Davies.

The 73 pilot whales were probably stranded during the night on remote Karikari Beach which is why so many died before they were discovered, said the department’s community relations manager, Carolyn Smith.

New Zealand frequently sees several mass whale strandings around its coastline, mainly each summer as whales pass by on their migration to and from Antarctic waters. Scientists have not been able to determine why whales become stranded.

A pod of 101 pilot whales were stranded on the same beach in 2007.

Kimberly Muncaster, chief executive of the Project Jonah whale aid group, said the 15 surviving whales were in “fairly poor condition”.

Read moreOver 50 Whales Die After Being Washed Up On New Zealand Beach

Japan bribes small nations with cash and prostitutes to gain support for the mass slaughter of whales

Recommended: The Cove – Oscar Award Winner (’Best Documentary’)


Humpback Whale - two adults breaching
Japan is attempting to break the 24-year moratorium on commercial whaling

A SUNDAY TIMES investigation has exposed Japan for bribing small nations with cash and prostitutes to gain their support for the mass slaughter of whales.

The undercover investigation found officials from six countries were willing to consider selling their votes on the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

The revelations come as Japan seeks to break the 24-year moratorium on commercial whaling. An IWC meeting that will decide the fate of thousands of whales, including endangered species, begins this month in Morocco.

Japan denies buying the votes of IWC members. However, The Sunday Times filmed officials from pro-whaling governments admitting:

– They voted with the whalers because of the large amounts of aid from Japan. One said he was not sure if his country had any whales in its territorial waters. Others are landlocked.

– They receive cash payments in envelopes at IWC meetings from Japanese officials who pay their travel and hotel bills.

– One disclosed that call girls were offered when fisheries ministers and civil servants visited Japan for meetings.

Barry Gardiner, an MP and former Labour biodiversity minister, said the investigation revealed “disgraceful, shady practice”, which is “effectively buying votes”.

The reporters, posing as representatives of a billionaire conservationist, approached officials from pro-whaling countries and offered them an aid package to change their vote.

The governments of St Kitts and Nevis, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Grenada, Republic of Guinea and Ivory Coast all entered negotiations to sell their votes in return for aid.

Read moreJapan bribes small nations with cash and prostitutes to gain support for the mass slaughter of whales

150 whales die off Tasmanian coast

More than 150 whales have died after becoming stranded off Tasmania’s west coast, Australian authorities have said, despite the efforts of rescuers who managed to shepherd a small number back to the ocean.

More than 150 whales have died after becoming stranded off  the west coast of Tasmania despite the efforts of rescuers, Australian authorities have said
A number of whales were rescued and put back out to sea Photo: AFP

The state government said the number of long-finned pilot whales that had perished had climbed to 150 after a body count on Sunday, almost double the earlier estimate of 80.

The stranded whales were discovered on Saturday and members of the local community and government officials worked to rescue them, but the whales had been badly injured by the rocks.

Read more150 whales die off Tasmanian coast