Minnesota's Wolves are Opportunistic Feeders

Gray wolf

Wolves are known for their signature method of hunting in packs, which helps them bring down large prey ranging from deer to moose and bison. But a recent research conducted in Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park has found that wolves have developed a taste of fish. This was seen when researchers with the Voyageurs Wolf Project recorded wolves catching freshwater fish as a seasonal source of food. This extraordinary finding is a new addition to the initial studies of Voyageurs' wolves, which have shown that the animals consume beavers and even blueberries to add to their diet. Since 2015, wolves from seven different packs in and around Voyageurs were fitted with GPS collars. Researchers collected location data from the wolves every twenty minutes, which enabled them to surge on the animals' feeding habits at a finer scale. This was how members of one of the wolf packs, known as the Bowman Bay pack, were first suspected by the researchers of eating fish.

Wolf scat containing blueberries

In April 2017, Tom Gable from University of Minnesota strolled to a creek where one of the collared wolves spent a great deal of time. He saw a collared wolf approximately 50 feet away while hiding in the shrubs on the edge of the creek. Dr. Gable watched the wolf wander back and forth around the creek, repeatedly running into the creek and splashing around. Then it stopped, and appeared to be eating something, before returning to the creek. When the wolf left, Dr. Gable emerged from his hiding spot and investigated the area. He knew right away that wolf was catching fish in the creek. Dr. Gable and his colleagues quickly learned that the scene he saw was a seasonal meal. In a month after his trek to the creek, researchers discovered that two collared Bowman Bay pack members spent roughly half their time fishing there. A year later, Dr. Gable and his colleagues spotted the pack visiting the creek again, so they installed camera traps, and captured footage of the wolves catching fish at night. In addition to eating their freshly-caught fish, the wolves were even shown to store their prey on the creek's bank.

Dr. Tom Gable with a lower mandible of a beaver killed by a wolf

I find it very fascinating what the researchers have uncovered about wolves in Voyageurs National Park. I have heard of studies done in coastal habitats of Alaska and British Columbia which have shown wolves habitually catching and eating salmon during the spawning season, but this is the first time they have been observed eating freshwater fish. The research studies on feeding behavior of wolves in Voyageurs, Alaska, and British Columbia have shown that the animals are highly opportunistic and can readily adapt to new sources of food. In addition to meat matter, Voyageurs' wolves have been observed to feed on blueberries. These findings, in my opinion, are clear proof of how bears and dogs are related to one another. I also think that this omnivorous diet is an indicator of how wolves are directly related to domestic dogs. The reason is because some kinds of dog food contain a combination of both meat and vegetarian substances. It goes to show that both wolves and domestic dogs, despite their carnivorous design, have managed to adapt for thousands of years in a variety of ways, including changing their feeding behavior.

Wolves lounging on a frozen lake in Voyageurs National Park

I believe that research on the feeding behavior of wolves in Voyageurs should be seen as a tool, in order to educate the public that wolves are not the stuff of nightmares and fairy tales that people tend to think of. I have always understood that when a carnivorous animal becomes a man-eater, it is due to human activities such as moving into the animal's habitat, killing off its natural prey, and converting that habitat into a human habitat. In other words, human beings have been inadvertently responsible for turning such animals, including wolves, into man-eaters. I firmly believe that the research work done on wolves should be seriously taken into consideration, in order to educate the global public and hopefully change their attitudes towards them. We should not forget that wolves are ancestral relatives of domestic dogs and studying them closely can reveal more secrets that no one has ever heard of before.

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Wolves Should Be Welcomed in Germany

A captive wolf in Hexentanzplatz in northern Germany.

In Europe, the wolf was and still is persecuted by rural populations. Since the Middle Ages, it has been viewed as the personification of evil and a threat to the farmers' livelihood which drove people to ruthlessly slaughter countless numbers across its home range. However, with the establishment of various national parks and other protected areas, the wolf was saved and its populations began to rebound. As wolf numbers grew, the animals began to move into parts of Europe where they had once disappeared. One of those places is Germany, where wolves had disappeared 150 years ago but have been making a comeback thanks to the country's reunification after 1990 which enhanced Europe's endangered species protections to the eastern part of Germany. The comeback of wolves into Germany has been seen since 2000 with packs crossing the border from Poland. According to the Brandenburg environmental office, wolf packs have increased from zero in 2007 to 26 this year.

Hans-Holger Liste, a soil ecologist, is one of several people in favor of wolves' return to Germany. 

The wolves' return to Germany may be great news for conservationists and to the country's urban population, but to the farmers it is a disaster. This was seen in April when more than forty sheep were killed in a single attack. One of the concerned farmers is Marco Hintze, who demanded that farmers should be given the right to shoot the wolves at an anti-wolf rally in the city of Potsdam last month. He further added that government officials are unresponsive to the concerns of people living in the rural areas. Another man who is against the wolves is Dirk Wellershoff of the Brandenburg Hunting Society, who argued that the animals' return is a manifestation of a larger political problem. That is, Germany's politics is distancing from the people and their concerns and that the wolves are indicators of how the people's problems are not being seen and no solutions are being found. Despite the criticism from farmers, there are also people who are in favor of wolves returning to Germany. One of them is soil ecologist Hans-Holger Liste, who is also a volunteer with a pro-wolf organization called Wolfsschutz Deutschland. He indicated that wolves need to be protected, so that they can benefit Germany's natural environment by controlling the country's excessive deer population. He is also aware of the intense hostility towards wolves in the German countryside. This was seen when authorities found remnants of a female wolf that had been illegally shot and then sunk into a lake with a concrete weight in the state of Saxony over the summer. In addition, there was even a report about a 55-year-old man who was attacked in northern Germany last month. It is unclear whether the attacker was a wolf as wolf attacks on humans are very bizarre, and a following DNA test of the man's bite wound was vague. However, the report threatened to arouse fears for the children's safety in the countryside.

A pair of Eurasian wolves

I honestly believe that wolves deserve to be welcomed back to their former haunts of Germany, where they had disappeared 150 years ago. However, I also firmly believe that emphasis should be placed on the well-being of farmers in order to eliminate the hostility they have been carrying towards wolves. This is the kind of hostility that was prevalent in Europe centuries ago when the vast majority of people were fearful of wolves and demonstrated that attitude through widespread killing, which resulted in regional extinctions across the animals' home range. The countries that have lost wolves over the centuries are Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, United Kingdom, and Ireland. Nowadays, it is mostly the rural populations that are hostile towards wolves. I strongly believe that the governments of Germany and other European wolf countries should join forces with conservation groups to implement necessary steps that ensures the well-being of both wolves and farmers. This includes employing livestock guardian dogs to protect their animals without resorting to retaliatory killing. In addition, the farmers' properties should be surrounded by some kind of protective barricade to prevent wolves from venturing in. Furthermore, it is essential to conduct educational outreach programs and workshops to farmers and the general public about the importance of wolves and how to prevent possible attacks on people from them. Wolves are crucial for the survival and well-being of Germany's ecosystems, especially when there is an overabundance of deer, wild boar, and other herbivores. Without wolves, herbivore populations would continue to escalate and as a result increase in the damage on newly-planted trees. This is why wolves should be welcomed in Germany and other European countries where they had once disappeared.

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Should the Great Indian Bustard Vanish into History?

The drastic drop in great Indian bustard population over the past decades.

The great Indian bustard is without question on the brink of extinction. With as few as 150 birds remaining in India as of 2018, it is a matter of time before it is completely wiped out from the face of the Earth. Such is the situation with this magnificent bird, that three wildlife organizations have joined forces to launch an emergency campaign to save the bustard from further disappearing into history. The three organizations that have initiated the campaign are the Corbett Foundation, Conservation India, and Sanctuary Nature Foundation. The goal of this campaign is to underline the overhead power transmission lines in bustard habitat, which are the main threat to these low-flying birds along with illegal hunting and habitat loss. The campaign implored the Ministries of Power and of New and Renewable Energy to take action by placing these power lines underground; a solution suggested by the Wildlife Institute of India's Endangered Species Recovery Program. The campaign also highlighted the ecological significance of the bustards' grassland habitats which have been reduced to wastelands. Since the campaign's launch, more than 6,500 people have signed the online petition addressed to Power Minister R.K Singh with whom the organizers have requested a meeting to show their case and receive a guarantee to action from him. The campaign has even received support from celebrities like actress Dia Mirza and former cricketer Anil Kumble.

Map showing great Indian bustard habitats and locations, and power lines

I strongly urge the general public of India and the global Indian community to provide a great deal of support for the conservation of the great Indian bustard. This magnificent bird is on the brink of extinction because it did not receive early support from not just the general public, but also politicians, policy makers, and the corporate sector. This delay cannot go on and should never go on! I strongly urge India's politicians, policy makers, and the corporate sector to please take action to help save the bustard. I can promise you that when the great Indian bustard goes extinct, it will be a major shame and disappointment for India on a global scale despite all the scientific expertise and financial resources available to save this bird. This is the last chance for everybody in India and abroad to save the great Indian bustard from extinction. Here are the following steps that need to be implemented to save the great Indian bustard without any exception whatsoever:

1. All state governments of India need to safeguard and fully protect "lekking" sites, so that male bustards can attract the females for breeding. Any disturbance or annihilation of these sites can spell disaster for the birds. This step requires political will and cooperation from various government departments and local communities.

2. All state governments should establish a great Indian bustard task force in every state where the birds live. These task forces should include effective and dedicated government officials from various departments, biologists, conservationists, and local community leaders.

3. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) should initiate an all-out "Project Bustard" based on an accurate scientific plan, and established in consultation with national and international experts, as well as leading people from each great Indian bustard state.

4. Analyze the practicability of captive breeding by establishing a core group comprised of international experts with experience in breeding bustards or comparable endangered birds in captivity, such as the California condor.

5. Announce annual advisories from the MoEF to Chief Wildlife Wardens of states containing bustards to outlaw entry and photography of the birds all the known habitats during the breeding season from April 1 to October 31. However, such disturbance outside the breeding season can have serious ramifications for the bustards. Therefore, wildlife photographers should willingly refrain from photographing the great Indian bustard.

The great Indian bustard is part of India's heritage, along with the tiger, lion, and the elephant. However, it has never been given much attention like the latter and this is why its numbers have been drastically reduced by anthropogenic factors. I say this again to the global Indian community that your support is vital for the conservation of the great Indian bustard. Your voice is crucial to urge our country's politicians, policy makers, and the corporate sector to take action with the wildlife experts, biologists, conservationists, and others involved in this large scale. This can be done by signing the online petition above specifically addressed to Minister R.K Singh. In addition, I highly recommend the people of India, including the politicians and policy makers, to strongly adhere to the five steps above in order to save great Indian bustards. It is time everybody took action regarding this ongoing conservation issue. The great Indian bustard needs our help; do not and I repeat DO NOT let this magnificent bird vanish into history!

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Somaliland's Fight Against the Illegal Smuggling of Cheetahs

Northeast African cheetah

When most people think of Somalia, what comes to their mind is a country torn apart by decades of civil warfare dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s. Even today, Somalia continues to be a haven of violence and bloodshed due to the strong presence of warlords and militias operating in the country and pirates off the coast. However, there is one part of the country that is a stark contrast to the bombings, shootings, and other acts of violence: Somaliland. Situated in the northwestern part of the country, Somaliland was devastated by the civil war and in turn separated from the rest of Somalia to rebuild itself. As a result, Somaliland became a self-proclaimed state with its own government and capital that is relatively peaceful than the rest of the country. Although it is poor, Somaliland has recently come to the spotlight for its remarkable stand against another issue unique to Africa: the illegal smuggling of wild cheetahs.

Shukri Haji Ismail, Minister of Environment and Rural Development, is leading the fight against trafficking of cheetahs in Somaliland. 

Cheetahs are known to be illegally smuggled as cubs from Africa to meet the consumer demands in the Middle East. From Somaliland, the cubs are transported by boat across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen. From Yemen, they are exported either to Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates. According to Patricia Tricorache of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, two-thirds of the cubs perish during this arduous journey and those that survive are sold through the internet as pets to the wealthy citizens of the Persian Gulf countries. She further added that a minimum of 330 cheetahs move through Somaliland, but the number may be as high as 500. Between February 2012 and July 2018, 1,367 cheetahs were offered for sale via Instagram. Leading the fight against cheetah trafficking is Somaliland's Minister of Environment and Rural Development Shukri Haji Ismail. For her, battling the smuggling of cheetahs is a moral mission. However, she is well-aware that Somaliland lacks the funding provided by international organizations like the World Bank because it is not recognized by the United Nations. As a result, all the costs of caring for the cheetah cubs and other confiscated wild animals are handled by the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

Somaliland landscape

I find it very remarkable that Somaliland is taking a tough stand against the illegal smuggling of cheetahs. It is amazing to see how a self-proclaimed state which was once devastated by the Somali civil war and having rebuilt itself has joined the global fight against the illegal wildlife trade. I also find it intriguing that even though Somaliland is poor with the fourth lowest GDP in the world, its people's mindset is extraordinary when it comes to wildlife conservation. For example, an aid worker named Guenther Wirth, who has lived in Somaliland since 2001 and is involved in efforts to close up the illegal wildlife trade, pointed out how a coast guard turned down an offer of $2,000 provided by the smugglers from whom he confiscated cheetah cubs. This goes to show that Somaliland's people are genuinely concerned about the plight of Africa's cheetahs and other wild animals being illegally smuggled through their homeland to meet consumer demands. I believe that other developing countries where the illegal wildlife trade is rampant should have the benefit of learning from Somaliland. This would help them change their attitudes towards this ongoing threat and act upon it. I very much admire that Minister Ismail is leading the battle against the trafficking of cheetahs and other wildlife. However, I strongly believe that Somaliland is in a great need of help with regard to funding in its battle against the illegal smuggling of cheetahs. It is highly crucial that the United Nations recognize Somaliland the same way it does with other countries, so that the nation is provided with ample financial support to further its efforts in suppressing the illegal wildlife trade. In addition, it is vitally important that other African countries, including those that make up the Horn of Africa, join forces with Somaliland in the battle against wildlife smuggling.

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Gujarat Forest Officials Use Themselves as Bait to Capture a Leopard!

A leopard in Gir Forest National Park

In India, the leopard is the most adaptable of the big cats. Its tolerance of change in habitat has made it coexist with people across its home range, but also brought it into conflict with them. Incidences of human-leopard conflicts across the country continue to make headlines with one person being either killed or seriously injured by a leopard. Such incidences have forced numerous measurements to mitigate human-leopard conflicts by capturing the leopard alive and then releasing it far away from human settlements. The most common method used is baiting, in which a live animal is placed in a steel cage with bars inside to keep it safe from the leopard. Generally, a dog or a goat is used as bait to lure the leopard into the trap since both the animals are the big cat's preferred prey in human settlements. But recently, in the state of Gujarat, a new type of bait is being used in a bid to catch a leopard: Humans!

The three men inside a cage where they spent four hours waiting for the leopard to show up.  

The story of Gujarat's latest human-leopard conflict came when a leopard was reported to have killed three people, including two children, and injured five others in Dahod district since mid-November. The victims included Mathuri Ganava, who was killed while venturing into the forest at around 7:00 in the morning on November 28 to collect firewood with three other women. The two children were village girls named Jyotsna Parmar and Ashwinta Pasaya, who were helping their families tend their cattle in the forest. The incidences called for drastic action aimed at capturing the leopard. Forest officials initially used goats to trap the leopard, but their efforts failed. So they changed their tactics by having three of their own colleagues spend a Friday night inside one of nine cages put around the forest where the leopard was roaming. The three men who spent the night in the cage included a veterinarian and a forest guard named Vijay Bamania, a specialist in shooting tranquilizer darts. Mr. Bamania indicated that neither he nor two other men were afraid while spending four hours inside the cage. He further added that all three of them spread dry leaves around their position so they could hear the leopard coming and had a machine to emit goat sounds to entice the animal, as well as a live goat tied in the open nearby. The remaining eight traps contained goats. According to Chief Conservator of Forests S.K Shrivastava, the cage was well-locked and that the three men's job was to alert the others after spotting the leopard.

One of the nine traps used to capture the leopard. 

I find it very interesting that forest officials employed a new technique in which they used themselves as bait to lure a leopard into the trap. It may sound bizarre at first, but I think it goes to show that when a leopard or any powerful big cat kills a human being, it acquires taste of human flesh and there is a possibility that it would reject non-human prey. But there are also various other factors that contribute to a leopard's man-killing behavior, along with that of lions and tigers. One of those factors is old age and it can be identified by signs such as broken teeth and wounds on the animal's body. I certainly hope that as forest officials in Gujarat's Dahod district continue to keep their traps set up in hopes of capturing the leopard, they will make sure that the animal really is a man-eater or not. In fact, I believe that it would help very much to enlist the support of leopard experts who can provide valuable information in distinguishing a man-eating leopard from a normal leopard. I strongly believe that there is a great need to take serious measurements in ensuring the villagers' safety in the area. This includes warning them to never venture out into the forests at dawn or dusk to raise their livestock or collect firewood. In addition, their village perimeter should be surrounded by a strong barricade effective in keeping leopards and other dangerous animals like hyenas and sloth bears from venturing inside.

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Iranian Wildlife Conservationists Should Never be Imprisoned on Baseless Criminal Charges

The eight conservationists from the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation held hostage by Iran.

The Asiatic cheetah is on the precipice of extinction with less than 53 remaining in Iran. Due to its conservation status, conservationists are working hard to ensure this magnificent cat does not go extinct. However, the process is being greatly hindered when a group of eight conservationists Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation were captured by the country's government and held hostage on charges related to espionage. The hostages include Amir Hossein Khaleghi, Abdolreza Kouhpayeh, Houman Jowkar, Morad Tahbaz, Niloufar Bayani, Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashani, and Taher Ghadirian. They were working for the organization on the conservation of various Iranian wildlife species, which includes observing animals like cheetahs with camera traps. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that the team used camera traps to gather information on Iran's missile program. If convicted, the conservationists could be sentenced to six months or face the death penalty. These people were not the only ones to be wrongfully accused of espionage by the country's government. Kavous Seyed-Emami, an Iranian-Canadian environmentalist, was arrested earlier this month on similar baseless charges and died under questionable circumstances in February while in custody. According to Tara Sepehri Far, a researcher with the Human Rights Watch, an investigation by the order of President Hassan Rouhani did not find that the conservationists were spies, which put them in the heart of a "domestic power struggle" with hardliners of the judiciary and the Revolutionary Guard. A group of experts demanded the government of Iran to have the charges against these conservationists to be dropped in a statement from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Asiatic cheetah

I cannot think of anything more barbaric and outrageous to both wildlife conservation and humanity than to see these eight conservationists being held hostage on false charges relating to espionage. What have these people done that is traitorous to Iran and its people? How can they be persecuted like animals without any solid proof that they committed crimes relating to espionage? These eight people were simply conducting camera trap surveys to monitor Iran's cheetahs as part of the ongoing conservation efforts to bring these cats back from the brink of extinction. To blindly imprison conservationists and environmentalists on false charges is downright unacceptable. I strongly urge the government of Iran to please drop the charges against these eight conservationists and let them continue their work in ensuring the survival and well-being of Iran's wildlife. If more and more people involved in the conservation of Iran's wildlife end up this way, it would not only hinder the efforts but also spell disaster for critically endangered animals like cheetahs. In other words, the Iranian government would inadvertently let the cheetah get closer and closer to extinction by wrongfully accusing conservationists and environmentalists of crimes which they have never done. I cannot imagine the Asiatic cheetah vanishing into history, especially after it had disappeared from much of its former homeland in India, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, and the Caucasus in the past decades. Iran is its last home and serious action needs to be taken to bring it back from extinction.

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Can a Sensor Save India's Elephants from Trains?

An elephant crossing a railroad track

In the past five years, India has lost nearly 100 elephants in train-related accidents. In addition, 26 elephants have been killed so far in 2018 alone with the most recent incident having occurred in Odisha's Kendujhar district where an elephant succumbed to its injuries after being hit by a goods train. However, there now appears to be a ray of hope in this issue with a recent news about Subrat Kar, a professor from IIT-Delhi's electrical engineering department, who has invented a sensor device that is currently being put to test. It is hoped that this device would be set up along railroad tracks frequented by elephants and prevent their deaths by train collision. Professor Kar has been working on this sensor for close to ten years in partnership with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and financed by Indian Railways and the Department of Science and Technology. The sensor was first tested inside the IIT-Delhi campus with satisfying results, and is now scheduled to be tested in real conditions. The sensor can detect the elephants' movement from a distance through a collection of built-in devices. These devices include a vibration detector which captures heat rays from the elephants, a camera to identify them, and lasers which have all these. Once the elephants' movement is detected, it would send a signal to the nearest railroad station and the message is sent to the train driver conveying him to slow down the train. The devices also authenticate whether the moving animals are actually elephants and not any other, which can cross the railroad tracks without needing to slow down the train. Professor Kar indicated that the sensors would be installed in sensitive spots, where there are paths that elephants use in order to detect them. He further added that Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand has been chosen as the test deployment site for these sensors.

An elephant family

I find this news to be very hopeful and promising for both elephants and people. Elephants in India have been under constant threat of getting hit by trains running through their habitats and dying as a result. But the invention of this special sensor sheds a light of hope in mitigating such incidences. I really hope that these sensors will be deployed in areas with railroad tracks, where elephant activity is frequent. Installing these devices in such areas will help everyone know their effectiveness. At the same time, I believe focus should be put in mitigating human-elephant conflicts across India especially in places where elephants are venturing into human settlements resulting in attacks on both sides. Just as there is a device designed to prevent elephants from getting killed by trains, I firmly believe that extensive research is required in developing a similar invention to help in preventing human-elephant conflicts. These animals are part of India's culture and heritage, and losing them to any form of anthropogenic pressure would be a devastating blow to the country.

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U.S Oil and Gas Companies Should Consult with Environmental Groups Before Conducting Seismic Surveys

A humpback whale with sea lions

The Trump administration recently permitted five companies to "incidentally, but not intentionally, harass marine mammals" by using seismic air guns when searching for oil and gas in the Atlantic Ocean. The decision has shocked environmental groups, who argue that the blasts of compressed air can harm mammals like humpback whales, and some coastal communities, who are concerned that the decision is a forerunner to offshore drilling. However, the permissions given by NOAA Fisheries are not the decisive step. The companies are required to also acquire permits from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) before they start searching. Furthermore, the authorizations expect the companies to take some measures to minimize harm to marine mammals. For instance, watchers on the vessels should warn the crew if a protected animal comes nearby. In addition, the searching missions are also required to observe underwater sounds for mammal vocalizations and close up for specific "sensitive species or groups." If allowed by BOEM, the companies would use the air guns to map underwater geology in order to look for oil and gas reserves and the blasts generated from the guns could cover a large area off the central and southern East Coast. Despite the given measurements, environmental groups strongly oppose the initiative pointing out that seismic blasting would tremendously impact the livelihood of marine animals. For example, Christopher Joyce of NPR recently reported that the acoustics from air guns would interfere with the communication of marine mammals by drowning out their sounds to each other. The report also pointed out that whales were observed to retreat from the air gun sounds, making them abandon their breeding or feeding grounds. In addition to marine mammals, other research indicated that the sounds could harm smaller marine animals such as plankton. Although the Trump administration announced that it was open to seismic surveying for oil and gas, some Republicans like Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina, have parted ways with the administration to oppose this method of exploration.

A seismic air gun in use

I personally think it is very absurd that the Trump administration would issue a statement that companies can "incidentally" harass Atlantic Ocean's marine life through seismic surveying with air guns when searching for oil and gas. How can you call it incidental that marine mammals like whales, dolphins, and porpoises suddenly come into contact with seismic air gun sounds and end up getting harmed in some way? I believe that these companies which are given federal permission to conduct seismic surveys in the Atlantic Ocean should stay in contact with organizations like the NOAA and others, who could advise them on which parts of the ocean are suitable for such activities and during what times of the year. This is especially important since migratory mammals like whales are known to occupy certain parts of the ocean for breeding or feeding. At the same time, it is especially crucial to thoroughly study the reaction of various marine animals' reaction to the acoustics from seismic air guns in order to get a better understanding as to whether conducting seismic surveys in the Atlantic Ocean or any other ocean is safe. Whales, dolphins, porpoises, and other marine animals have special roles in keeping the marine environments healthy and any harm inflicted upon them can jeopardize the environments to some degree.

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