freedomfororcas

[freedomfororcas]

i've forgotten how to edit anything on my profile now lmao it's been so long since i've used tumblr

i'm 33 now not 27 🤣

what is everyone doing nowadays? i'm an organic veggie gardener now.

[freedomfororcas]

Made this version for tiktok but figured I'd post here.

Song: The Beach Slowed - Lil Gijs

Footage courtesy of Pierre from USEA diving

[freedomfororcas]

Amaya has died, just days after Ula did…   This year has been catastrophically unkind to orcas. :( 

[freedomfororcas]

FYI, those "weird amphibious dolphin" and other associated sideblogs aren't legit. It's a sock puppet account of this right-wing Trump supporter called r4cs0. He and his fascist buddies get a laugh by creating accounts to look like people with (what they think) are left-wing views so that they can make "the SJWs" fight each other. r4cs0 has been harassing dairyisntscary for months because they identify as asexual, and r4cs0 claims asexuals are "annoying."

Ooh thanks for the heads up! I got a slight feeling that it could be trolling but wasn't confident.

[freedomfororcas]

Check out this orca off Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. If I didn’t know any better, I’d wager it’s a type D, but there’s no records of them in Australia…

Photo by Esther McDonald.

[freedomfororcas]

I cant remember how to change the bio on my blog lol i'm nearly 30 now, not 27 😭

[freedomfororcas]

[x]

[freedomfororcas]

Russia Takes First Steps To Releasing Orcas, Belugas From ‘Whale Jail’

Hilary Hanson - April 6, 2019

Russian officials say experts will be evaluating dozens of captive whales with the hope of ultimately freeing them from holding pens that have been internationally dubbed “whale jail.”

The New York Times reported this week that Russia’s minister of natural resources, Dmitri N. Kobylkin, said the situation is unprecedented because of the number of animals ― 10 orcas and 87 belugas ― that need to be released.

Government officials plan to meet with a group of experts, including famed oceanographer and marine scientist Jean-Michel Cousteau, to figure out the best course of action, according to the BBC.

Keep reading

[freedomfororcas]

Orca in Norway by Paul Nicklen

[freedomfororcas]

CA171B “Fatfin”

4/14/2019

[freedomfororcas]

Lawsuit Aims to Protect West Coast Salmon for Starving Orcas

Wild Fish Conservancy - April 3, 2019

The Center for Biological Diversity and Wild Fish Conservancy sued the Trump administration today for mismanaging West Coast salmon fisheries and harming critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales, a violation of the Endangered Species Act. That orca population has dropped to just 75 individuals, mostly because declining salmon runs have left them without enough to eat.

Today’s lawsuit was filed in federal court in the Western District of Washington. It seeks to compel the National Marine Fisheries Service to assess and reduce the threat to the endangered orcas from salmon fishing off Washington, Oregon and California. Southern Residents are also threatened by pollution and disturbance from vessel traffic.

Keep reading

[freedomfororcas]

I talk about the new documentary "Searching For Chinook".

You can donate to the film here.

[freedomfororcas]

Belugas Arrive to Iceland Sanctuary Next Month

Jelena Ćirić - March 26, 2019

Beluga whales Little White and Little Grey will undertake a long journey next month, when they will be transported from their current home in China to a specially-built sanctuary in Iceland. Their new home, located in the Westman Islands, is the first-ever open sea beluga whale sanctuary. RÚV reported first.

The two 13-year-old whales are currently housed in a Shanghai amusement park where they are kept in concrete pools. As they were raised in captivity, it is impossible to release them into the wild. Their new home will provide them with significantly better living conditions. In the Westman Islands, the whales will be housed in a sea pen, but the sanctuary also has enclosed tanks where they can be moved in case of bad weather or need of special care.

The whales have been preparing for the upcoming journey for months, both through diet and exercise. Snacking on high-fat fish is preparing the pair for colder water temperatures than they are used to, while additional exercise led by specialists will help them adapt to their new, larger home. The whales will cross nearly 10,000km (6,200mi) on their journey to Iceland, travelling by land, sea, and air.

[freedomfororcas]

Did you know that in 1983, SeaWorld attempted to capture 100 of Alaska’s killer whales? SeaWorld had been barred from capturing in Washington and British Columbia, so they looked farther north to acquire more killer whales for their parks. They had received a permit from NMFS to temporarily capture 100 whales in Alaskan waters to obtain blood samples, extract teeth, and take weight/length measurements. While 90 whales would be released, 10 would be kept and shipped off to their parks in California, Florida, and at the time, Ohio.

Naturally, this did not sit well with Alaskans. The proposed area of the captures, Prince William Sound, is an important region for the local resident killer whales and people feared captures could deplete the population and cause remaining whales to become scared of humans. The Tlingit people, who revere killer whales, branded the captures and cruel and exploitative. Some fishermen and environmentalists threatened to interfere with any of SeaWorld’s capture operations. Coincidentally, SeaWorld failed to file an environmental impact statement prior to issuance of their permit—several groups, including the Sierra Club, challenged the permit in court on this basis. Their permit was voided by a federal judge in 1985 and SeaWorld was not allowed to conduct the proposed captures.

Knowing that the whales I study and love could have been subjected to cruel procedures or confined to tanks to splash tourists in Florida sends a shiver up my spine. The removal of even one female whale would have had profound impacts on the pods—a productive female can leave as many as 15 descendants over 3 generations. Had even a few of these whales been captured, I might not have had the privilege to view the whales I see today! I am extremely grateful Alaskans stood up to SeaWorld and prevented them from disrupting Alaska’s wild whale populations.

[freedomfororcas]

I seriously dislike the incessant narrative that ‘moving Tokitae or Corky b/c they’re old = death.’ They are old(er than other captive orcas), but have the potential to live a lot longer per their species. They could die at any time in their longtime water-filled coffins and many of the same folks hand-wringing about any relocation would likely not bat an eyelash. Or just be “deeply saddened.” There is nothing amiss with wanting to improve an animal’s situation. Especially in Tokitae’s case, where she effectively headlines the concept of trying to make things right again. No, that isn’t saying she’s being crucified on or for the concept. She is an integral part of it, and stands only to benefit from it.  

[freedomfororcas]

Looking for animators!

Hello!

I’m working on a new video and am looking for an animator to come on board!

The video will have an anti-captivity message (surprise lol). It will be set to an original song on the piano written and performed by my friend.

The song is titled “Home”, and I’m looking for a storyline to fit the song that will have an anti-captivity message. You are free to be as creative as you want with the story, as long as it is relatively obvious what the message is supposed to convey.

There are no specific art styles I have in mind.

This will be a PAID commission, we can negotiate what price you would like to charge.

In terms of length, as it is still early days, I don’t have a specific time frame in mind, but I imagine it will be around the 3-4 minute mark. Right now I’m just looking for expressions of interest.

If you have any work you’d like to send my way, please feel free to message me your portfolios or any examples of orca art and animation you have done!

Please share if you know of anyone who would be interested.

Again, this is a paid commission, not looking to waste anyone’s time and want to sufficiently compensate you for your work!

Thank you <3