Scientists Confirm Sightings of Endangered Pygmy Blue Whale in Southern Philippine Waters For years, a group of researchers have been tracking a mysterious whale that they initially thought belonged to another blue whale subspecies.
This article originally appeared in Mongabay. Mavic Conde
May 14, 2021
A solitary whale frequently spotted in the Bohol Sea in the southern Philippines has long had a nickname: Bughaw, or “blue.” Now, thanks to recently published research, the whale also has a confirmed species and subspecies, knowledge that could shift understanding about the distribution of whale populations throughout the southern Pacific.
Bughaw, a pygmy blue whale, known to frequent the Bohol Sea. Until recently experts thought this species did not venture into Philippine waters. Image courtesy of Jo Marie Acebes
Fed Plan to Extend Point Reyes Ranch Leases, Kill Tule Elk, Moves Forward In Point Reyes National Seashore, the National Park Service caters to cattle industry profits over the preservation of public land. George Wuerthner
May 10, 2021
Fences. Everywhere I went during a recent trip to Point Reyes National Seashore, I encountered fences. There are 300 miles of these barriers throughout the 71,000-acre national seashore. Why are there fences in a national park unit? The National Park Service (NPS) would say they are part of a “cultural heritage” that needs to be protected. But these fences are symbolic of a controversy at Point Reyes. They exist to facilitate the private use of public lands, for the personal profit of the cattle industry, with the full blessing of the park service charged to preserve the area’s natural values.
The whales spend the winter off Mexico’s waters, then they head back north and stay off the coast of California in spring and summer.
Scientists believe the numbers observed on shore are a fraction of the real die-off. They say many more die at sea and are never observed, instead floating offshore or sinking to the bottom.
Although the gray whales are still migrating north from Baja California, fewer whales have stranded this year than in the two previous years just 68 so far.
While the death of these whales is tragic, Milstein said, it offers an opportunity to “better understand what’s affecting the other 20,000 remaining gray whales out there.”
Ally Rando and Justin White
On opening night of the Arizona International Film Festival, organizers honored St. Maryâs Hospital nursing staff and associates for their hard teamwork and dedication during the pandemic. ICU nurses Ally Rando and Justin White attended on behalf of all their coworkers at St. Maryâs Hospital.
âWorking with patients throughout the pandemic has taught me how extraordinarily fragile life is and how vulnerable we can all be,â White said. âThis gave me a true sense of humbleness and gratitude for health and life.â
Festival organizers asked hospital leadership how best to honor and thank frontline workers for their integral part in serving the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The two nurses were asked to represent Carondelet caregivers and associates who have persevered treating COVID-19 patients in Southern Arizona, as well as supporting each other since the pandemic began more than a year ago.