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Will You Be Watching Whale Wars Tonight?

PetSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:00:26 -0800

We all know that Hayden Panettiere wants to save the whales, but she's not the only one! Founded in 1977, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has been protecting the seas at the bottom of the Earth against Japanese whalers, and over the Winter season of 2007 to 2008, Animal Planet tagged along to document their journey.

In a seven-part series beginning tonight, we get a closeup look at how far the Sea Shepherds will go to protect the whales of the Antarctic. Not only are they intent on saving ocean dwellers, but they are also committed to protecting all wildlife, including seals that are hunted every year in Canada. Check out the clip above, and tell me: Will you be watching Whale Wars?

Creature Features: Beluga Whales

PetSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:30:24 -0700

I just couldn't get that song out of my head so I dove right into a bunch of wild whale facts! Do you know anything about those baby Belugas (and adult ones too)? Test yourself when you take my quiz!

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Super-Cute Video: Baby Belugas Blowing Bubbles

PetSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:15:04 -0700

Sing it with me: Baaaa-by Be-luuuuga. Am the only one getting flashbacks to childhood whenever I see pictures of Beluga Whales? Anyway, the endangered mammals are best recognized by their distinctive white color and large foreheads (forget "fivehead" . . . more like twenty-fivehead). Prominent noggins or not, they are pretty cute . . . especially when blowing bubbles. Check it out in the video below!

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Creature Features: Animals in Antarctica

PetSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:30:29 -0700

When I heard that a chunk of Antarctic ice about seven times the size of Manhattan suddenly collapsed, I couldn't help but wonder about the animals. I know many creatures call this region home . . . but what do you know about them?

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Hayden Made It to Obama After All!

PetSugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:30:18 -0800

I know I'm not the only one that was curious to follow what happened after we saw Hayden's Save the Whales Again! rally at Dupont Circle and her attempt to talk with Barack Obama at American University so when PetSugar reader, zoorph, sent me this pic, I couldn't resist sharing it with all of you! Lucky gal, she happens to be a graduate student at that school attending the event backstage – kudos for this great case of right-place-right-time and quick snapping! Regardless of whether face time between the senator and the starlet will help Hayden's cause (or his presidential campaign), this 18-year-old sets a good example of tenacity, activism, and an interest in politics for those other young voters out there!

The Scoop: Hayden Wants to Save the Whales Again!

PetSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:00:34 -0800

Hayden Panettiere got fired up about whales in a rally at Washington, DC's Dupont Circle over the weekend. Coming a few months after the Heroes actress failed a dolphin rescue mission, Hayden has joined forces with Save the Whales Again! to continue to protest the slaughtering of whales in Japan and elsewhere. This campaign is part of the Animal Welfare Institute (founder of the original Save the Whales movement) and the Whaleman Foundation, an oceanic research, conservation, and production organization dedicated to preserving and protecting dolphins, whales, and their ocean habitat.

In addition to handing out fliers and speaking at length about the subject, she is calling for a boycott of goods from Japan, Iceland, and Norway and is scheduled to visit the embassies of those countries plus attend a news conference with the US House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources this week. When asked about her participation in these efforts, Hayden said:

I get that rush and feeling of really making a difference rather than just lending my face to something. I'd rather people pay attention to me doing this than shopping at Fred Segal. We're saving magnificent animals. I don't think anyone objects to that. I don't trust people who don't love animals.

Agreed. At just 18-years-old, her maturity on these issues is impressive and I hope she continues to speak up for what she believes in and that her fame can inspire others to get on board with the preservation movement as well. Good work, Hayden, on your real-life heroism!

Check out a gallery of the rally when you read more.

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To the Rescue: Choosing a Whale Watching Tour

PetSugar — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:00:00 -0800

We wrapped up our travels in Hawaii with aquatic life, and I stumbled upon some great tips for choosing a whale-watching tour no matter where you are. First and foremost, please remember you are getting the lucky opportunity to spot these creatures in their natural environment and you should never do anything to put them in jeopardy. Before making the pick, ask yourself if the tour operators are putting the animal first and not making any promises (i.e., money-back guarantee) that could cause them to take unnecessary risks. In addition to doing your research (and asking for recommendations), consider the following questions:

Why are they doing this? Check the training of the crew members – you're there to learn and it's important to know about their training, study, research participation, and length of experience observing whales before you set sail.
How much time do they dedicate? You'll want to book a trip that brings the whale watching front and center. It's a good sign when the company actually works in whale research year-round and makes that the primary focus of their business – and not just making it a seasonal alternative to a diving or cruise business.

See a couple more when you read more.

How will you share the space? It's important to know who you'll be traveling with (check for maximum passenger loads). You'll want to have the room to move around and take pictures as well as picking a legit company that is respectful of the animals and guidelines in place, and not just promising the closest glance you'll get.
What features does the boat have? Check the price compared to the length of the trip, any included items, and boat features. Many recommend catamarans equipped with hydrophones to hear the whale song while onboard.

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Is That Mr. Splashy Pants?

PetSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:00:29 -0800

If you've ever wanted the chance to name a wild animal, your time has come! Greenpeace is sponsoring a whale naming competition for the humpbacks traveling on the Great Whale Trail. The contest started with over 11,000 submissions but has been whittled down to 30 possible suggested names including, as you probably guessed, Mr. Splashy Pants.

Now, this is where you come in. Pick your top fave from choices like Talei (meaning 'special or rare' in Fijian), Veikko (meaning 'brother or a good friend' in Finnish), and other equally interesting and melodic names. You can only vote once but spread the word – the deadline is Dec. 7.

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Killer Whales Are Picky Eaters!

PetSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:30:42 -0800

I have a good friend that will travel to great lengths to get the best sushi. Her favorite restaurant is here in SF (she lives about 25 miles outside of town), and she swears by their salmon and yellowtail. Little does she know that her raw fish obsession is one she shares with killer whales!

A recent study finds that salmon is killer whales' favorite food, and they will travel large distances to nosh on the best. Using their Ecolocators (creating an echoing sound), they can scan areas up to a half mile away to find their favorite King Salmon, which provides the high concentration of fats and lipids that these whales seem to prefer. I can see traveling 25 miles to a favorite sushi bar a couple of times a month, but scanning hundreds of miles of ocean for a particular fish? Now that's a dedication that my pal Yum could appreciate!

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Hayden Wants to Save the Whales Again . . . and You Can Help!

PetSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:40:50 -0700

Nearly one year after Hayden Panettiere joined animal activists in the rescue mission to stop a dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan, the actress has a new tactic to save the whales - she's joining forces with SocialVibe to petition this annual event. Watch the video below to learn how you can get involved:

Hayden also spoke about her efforts (and continued commitment) at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday in partnership with Save the Whales Again!, a conservation campaign of the Whaleman Foundation.

Check out pictures of her speech and rally when you read more.

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