Category: Animals

So many of you are feeling what I’m feeling right now. Vulnerable. Lost. Way out of our comfort zones. Stuck in fear. All of this and more. But what always helps me out of this morass is Mother Nature. In the spring of next year I’ll be publishing my newest version of Nature Teachers called Strength from Nature.

Today, I turned to one of my teachers, the Lobster. I hope you gain some growing, changing, new living perspective from this hearty marine crustacean that lives to get un-stuck when it’s at its most naked and fearful time. I bless this wondrous Nature Teacher for helping me find renewed strength to carry on in a world I barely understand right now. I hope it helps you as well…

“Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown.”
~George Shinn

Continue reading “The Lobster”

1998-2015

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
~ Dr. Suess

I called him Scout because when he arrived in my life seventeen years ago, I thought he was a she and of course named the tiny drop of a kitten after one of my favorite Harper Lee characters from To Kill A Mockingbird.

Found in the woods by a Good Samaritan during a rain storm, the eensy creature was carried in a soggy paper bag to the Monterey police office where my dear friend, Kate, worked as a counselor. She called me up and said there was someone she thought I should meet. And she was right. The minute I saw him it was instant love. I learned that the kitty was the only survivor from a litter that had succumbed around him. And that’s the kind of mettle he carried with him throughout his life. He was tiny but tough. Had a don’t- mess-with-me “cat-itude” that somehow morphed into my own psyche as well. I learned from him. Although I did have to teach him to stop growling whenever someone went near his meal. He’d stretch his little feet over his cup and guard it with his life. That’s probably how he survived. I pushed the thought away that he might have offed his brothers and sisters for food. Scout? Nahhhh. Anyway, he soon trusted that he didn’t have to fight for his meals and relaxed into his innate sweetness.

At the beginning he had yet to be weaned from his abandoned momma so I fed him formula from a doll bottle. He’d often curl up in the hood of my bathrobe as I wrote at the computer and then when he was entirely satiated of sleep and food he’d ping-pong from room-to-room doing the kitty burst-and-fly-charge-and-hide dance. An absolute wild child, he drove his old cat brother, Quince, nearly out of his mind. I worried that having a tiny new buddy to harass him constantly wasn’t being fair to poor Quince—at that point being an ancient and creeky feline deserving of some peace and respect in his winter years. But the resulting Scout-onslaught proved to be positive. The little guy reawakened Quince’s inner cat and soon the two were chasing and pouncing all over each other. Scout gave his big bro some added quality years that were a gift.

Continue reading “Scout”

Those who have been brave enough to drive with me through the years probably still have fingernail-scars imbedded in their palms from white-knuckling. I specialize in getting lost and rarely found. Have no sense of direction. And will never drive a freeway again unless you put a gun to my head.

That should set the stage for a recent drive I did with one of the best and most patient navigators ever. Did I say that he was sight-challenged, as in almost blind? True. I was directed through the San Diego traffic by my friend, an unseeing eye guide named Claude. A former biologist and “birder,” this amazing genius has socked away an inventory of facts—flora and fauna and a whole lot more—into his brilliant brain. And one recent morning he offered to share his wisdom and memorized street sense with my friend Willie and me.

I picked him up at his home, whereupon he proceeded to kindly sense my inward breathing as I sucked in the stress of traversing my way around praying I’d be able to keep my precious cargo safe. Diminutive Willie was wedged into the back seat and Claude, all six-plus-something of him trying to find comfort in the passenger side. Feeling the inside of the door his fingers touched one of the many rocks I have tucked inside the car. “Oh, rocks!” he smiled. “Yes,” I laughed. “I have them everywhere. And smooth stones.” We commiserated. It seems he collected them as well.

And so our adventure began with me carefully following his directions and faint sightedness (the blind leading the blind?) to an experience I’ll never forget. Following Claude’s lead we rounded SeaWorld Drive (Gag. I wish they’d change the name) from the Hilton Hotel to West Mission Bay Drive turning onto Quivira Road by making two left turns, heading south, and passing the Marina Village Conference Center as the road bent westward again. With each twist and turn, Claude would alert me ahead of time beforehand. I couldn’t believe it. Continue reading “Blind Birding by the Bay”

The following are a series of ten blog posts I wrote about the imprisoned orcas at Sea World and ten advocates who represent a global voice of those wishing for a new paradigm shift for them–and for the entire world of captive and performing animals. If you agree please add your voice to help make positive changes NOW. Thank you!

This week’s Advocate is Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez.

Prisoner #10:  Makani
Age: 15 months

Born on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2013, Makani made his debut in Shamu Stadium, SeaWorld San Diego. Guided by his momma and big sister, the baby swam immediately to the surface just seconds after he was born to take his first breath.

Makani, (his name means “Wind” in Hawaiian) was the fourth calf born to mother, Kasatka and father, Kshamenk, an Argentine orca. Makani’s half-siblings with mom, Kasatka, are Takara, Nakai and Kalia. (Read about both parents in #2 of this Series; sibs Nakai and Kalia are also of the San Diego 10, with Nakai featured in No. #7, and Kalia in No. #9).

Conceived via artificial insemination, Makani’s mother is a resident Icelandic orca held captive in California, and his father, imprisoned in Argentina, was trapped and captured offshore there —this unnatural coupling has made Makani a hybrid of two vastly different ecotypes, which would never occur in the wild.

The frisky calf is full of energy, often seen copying the other whales—breaching beside them or on his own. Makani seems to have a playful exuberance about him, and his happiness could be attributed to the fact that his big sister, Kalia, is very close to him, as is his mother Kasatka. Kalia was by his side when he was born and this might attribute to her strong maternal care for her baby brother.

Continue reading “Orca Profiles in Captivity: The San Diego 10 – #10”

This is the ninth in a series of ten in which we meet one of the San Diego 10 orcas and hear from an advocate who continues to be one of the voices of these imprisoned voiceless, never stopping until the whole world listens.

This week’s Advocate is Liz Jacobelly.

Prisoner #9:  Kalia
Age: 9

Her name means “Beauty” in Hawaiian, and this lovely nine-year-old orca lives up to her name completely. Born at SeaWorld San Diego on December 21, 2004, her mother is Kasatka and her father is Keet. (Kasatka is featured in #2 of our San Diego 10 series, and Keet is featured in #5 of this series.)

Kalia’s claim to fame is that she is also known as Great Grandbaby Shamu, being the granddaughter of the very first live orca born into captivity, Kalina (Keet’s mother; Keet was her first calf).

But her most recent claim to fame is that this very young orca is pregnant. Tremendously upsetting to all those rallying for her and other captive orcas forced to breed by SeaWorld, more and more at prohibitively young ages, this 9-year old was impregnated by Ulises, the oldest male orca in captivity. (To learn more about Ulises, he is featured in #3 of our San Diego 10 series.)

Just to make doubly sure that young Kalia was pregnant by Ulises, SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. also artificially inseminated her with Ulises’ sperm. Kalia is expected to give birth this coming December. (Orcas have a 17-month gestation.)

A bill (AB 2140) is now being studied in the California legislature that would ban the park from breeding its captive orcas. The bill would also ban orca shows, ban captive breeding and prohibit the import and export of the so-called “killer” whales in California.

Continue reading “Orca Profiles in Captivity: The San Diego 10 – #9”

This is the eighth in a series of ten in which we meet one of the San Diego 10 orcas and hear from an advocate who continues to be one of the voices of these imprisoned voiceless, never stopping until the whole world listens.

This week’s Advocate is Zach Affolter.

Prisoner #8:  Ikaika
Age: 21

Ikaika (whose name is Hawaiian for “Strength”) was born at SeaWorld Orlando on August 25, 2002. His mother is Katina and his father is Tilikum (the featured orca in the movie, Blackfish).

Ikaika was Katina’s fifth calf. One of the others born to her was Taku. The two orcas, Ikaika and Taku were very close and spent much time together over the years, often performing with Katina.

But then in 2006, Ikaika (“Ike”), at the tender age of four years old, was separated from his mother and siblings—something that would never happen in the wild—they stay together for life. Orcas develop close bonds with their kin and it’s quite traumatic for them to be taken away from each other. But because the emotional state, or family bonds of these marine mammals are never considered in the captive world of the SeaWorld prison, Ikaika was nothing but a trade, a commodity, a breeding machine to be used at will. So Ikaika was moved to Marineland Ontario, while Taku was sent to SeaWorld, Texas.

It’s important to note what it means to “move” or “transport” an orca. Even though the transport is attended by veterinarians and animal-care specialists throughout the process, the whole procedure involves a tremendous undertaking. The added stress is very hard on these sensitive marine mammals already living lives fraught with stress within alien and inappropriate chlorinated environments which are the antithesis of their ocean habitat.

The orcas are put in a sling; once secured in this sling, they’re lifted by a crane into a crate with water in it that allows for very limited space for them to move around in at all. It’s like being confined to a claustrophobic coffin. They’re then placed on a transport truck, loaded onto a cargo plane and once arriving at their destination, the reverse process then takes place upon arrival—once again finding themselves in yet another alien environment.

Continue reading “Orca Profiles in Captivity: The San Diego 10 – #8”

This is the seventh in a series of ten in which we meet one of the San Diego 10 orcas and hear from an advocate who continues to be one of the voices of these imprisoned voiceless, never stopping until the whole world listens.

This week’s Advocate is Zach Affolter.

Prisoner #7:  Nakai

Sweet-natured Nakai was born on September 1, 2001. His claim to fame is that he was the very first orca to be conceived through artificial insemination. Not only that. He was born head first, which is extremely rare in most captive orca births. His mother, Kasatka, who lived in California, was impregnated through semen collected from his father, Tilikum, who lives in Florida.

Both parents are Icelandic. (Note: If you would like to know more about Kasatka, you may read all about her in our Series #2 article. If you want to know about Tilikum’s tragic ongoing story, we recommend you see the movie, Blackfish, in which he is the featured force behind it.)

When Nakai was just 18 months old, trainers separated him from his mother in order for him to perform solo in SeaWorld shows — uncommon for such a young orca.

As of June, 2010, Nakai (his name is Native American for “Victory”) weighed 3,350 pounds (1,520 kg) and was 12 feet 8 inches (3.86 m) long. Currently, he lives at SeaWorld San Diego with nine other whales, including his mother, his half-sister, Kalia, and his two half-brothers, Ikaika and Makani.

Before waterworks were stopped in 2010, Nakai was actively involved in them. At the time he did very well in them, never showing aggression towards his trainers. Independent and affectionate by nature, Nakai’s playful nature made him accessible and fun to be around; also more malleable for his trainers to work with him. He would often interact with the park’s guests when he was younger; but now that he is older he doesn’t do that as often, but does only when he wants to do so. Now reaching maturity he is also becoming sexually mature and likes to see what he can get away with.

Continue reading “Orca Profiles in Captivity: The San Diego 10 – #7”

This is the sixth in a series of ten in which we meet one of the San Diego 10 orcas and hear from an advocate who continues to be one of the voices of these imprisoned voiceless, never stopping until the whole world listens.

This week’s Advocate is Steve Christianson.

Prisoner #6:  Shouka

Age: 21

Imagine living in quiet desperation in solitary confinement for 10 YEARS. Pretty horrendous, right? The crime for such enforced aloneness? Nothing more than being held captive by those who considered her merely a source of entertainment and breeding opportunity for them. Nothing else. Just a money commodity. That’s Shouka’s story–the first orca to be born at Marineland in Antibes, France on February 25, 1993.

Shouka, (her name is Inuit for “Beautiful One”) is 100 percent Icelandic, her mother is Sharkane and her father is Kim 2. Shouka grew up under the care of her mother and fellow captive, Freya. When Shouka was three years old, Freya gave birth to Shouka’s half-brother, Valentin. The two siblings were very close. Soon, Sharkane gave birth to two more calves, Inouk in 1999, and Wikie, in 2001.

These births were most valuable to Shouka in helping to teach her skills in taking care of a calf. Had she been allowed to live her life within this secure pod with her family she might have experienced a quasi-state of contentment even within the confines of a park prison. But at the young age of just nine years old, Shouka was removed from her pod in France never to see them again.

In 2002, she was loaned to Six Flags World of Adventure in Ohio. Orcas are known to be one of the most social mammals on the planet and yet, for the ten years that followed that first move for Shouka, she was fated to live utterly alone without another orca companion. The contrast to her life with her parents and siblings and what she now had must have been devastating for her.

By 2004, Shouka had been living by herself for two years when she was transported from Ohio to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California, where, once again she was alone, living in a far too small tank for a killer whale. Most of the time the pool water was murky and her tank was left unsheltered.

Continue reading “Orca Profiles in Captivity: The San Diego 10 – #6”

This is the fifth in a series of ten in which we meet one of the San Diego 10 orcas and hear from an advocate who continues to be one of the voices of these imprisoned voiceless, never stopping until the whole world listens.

This week’s Prisoner Advocate is Doni Lantow.

Prisoner #5: Keet

Age: 21

Born on February 2, 1993, at Sea World San Antonio, Keet (his name is Tlingit Indian for “orca”) is known for being the grandbaby of Shamu, and also for being one of the most heavily transported orcas in captive history. It’s amazing this beautiful orca has such a gentle nature considering how disruptive his entire life has been.

Barely 18 months old when he was separated from his mother, Kalina, Keet was left behind when she was moved away from him to Sea World Orlando, pregnant with another calf. Remember, in the wild, orcas generally live in close-knit family pods consisting of several females, calves, one or more males and/or juveniles. There are some pods that consist of a mother and her offspring who stay with her for life. Many pods have been documented as stable, consistent matriarchal family groups with several generations traveling together. So being separated from his mother was inherently unnatural for an orca—even for those born captive and separated from their familial pods.

At five years old, he was then moved from San Antonio to San Diego where he spent five months before that being flown to (the now defunct) Sea World Ohio. After just one season there, he was again returned to San Diego.

During his second stay in San Diego, Keet sired his first calf, Kalia, born to Kasatka (Prisoner #2 in this Series) on December 21, 2004. Father and daughter met when he returned to San Diego for the third time on February 27, 2012. During his return to San Antonio, in 2004, Keet sired his second calf with Kayla (the first orca born in Sea World San Antonio). Her baby was born on October 9, 2005 (she might have been premature) and was named Halyn. And this is another example of the tragic results of separating pod families.

Continue reading “Orca Profiles in Captivity: The San Diego 10 – #5”

In the wild, they don’t solve their problems aggressively. It’s not normal. Killer whales travel in kinship groups or clans and they don’t have those aggressive interactions. If other whales come along from a different group, they just avoid each other. Obviously, you can’t do that in a tank.”
–  Researcher, Kenneth Balcomb, regarding aggression with captive orca

This is the fourth in a series of ten in which we meet one of the San Diego 10 orcas and hear from an advocate who continues to be one of the voices of these imprisoned voiceless, never stopping until the whole world listens.

After reading about Prisoner #4, Orkid, please scroll down this and “meet” one of the top San Diego 10 Prisoner Advocates. This week’s Advocate is Pamela Slater-Price, former San Diego County Supervisor.

Prisoner #4: Orkid

Age: 26

Born on September 23, 1988, during a live Shamu show at Sea World San Diego, Orkid made her debut in front of thousands of spectators. Of course, a natural orca birth in the wild wouldn’t be bombarded with the noise and cameras and invasion of such a personal entrance into the world as this baby experienced.

But Orkid was a captive being—50 percent Icelandic (from her mother, Kandu V) and 50 percent Northern Resident/Canadian (from her father, Orky) – born into the prison world of enforced performance in the name of entertainment. In fact, her parents personify really all that is wrong with captive, performing orcas.

It is no surprise that Orkid has attacked trainers on multiple occasions. Is it any wonder?

From the very beginning of her entrance into the world she encountered loss. When she was only three days old, her father Orky II, died, hence, her name in his memory, “Orky’s Kid.” Orky died of acute pneumonia and chronic wasting—which meant he lost a great amount of weight before his death. Orky’s pectorals were huge and his flukes curled completely. His tremendous size can be seen in both of his daughters, who have grown to be quite large like their father. Orky’s only living captive relatives are Orkid and Kayla. At one time Orky was actually called “Snorky.” At almost 22 feet long and 11,000 pounds, he was one of the largest whales ever held in any aquarium.

The following year of her father’s death, at just one year old, young Orkid experienced another life-changing passage in front of thousands during a live show. She watched her mother, Kandu V, bleed to death following a brutal altercation with one of the other orcas, Corky II.

Continue reading “Orca Profiles in Captivity: The San Diego 10 – #4”