I first started this blog, June of this year. It was originally going to be a temporary thing, but it's no longer so. Anyway, throughout this time I've been observing a number of animals. For the newcomers, I've decided to make a post detailing the animals that I observe more frequently, and their names, and how to recognize them.

I do observe some other animals, especially in the shark tank, but I'm afraid, for now, I can't tell them apart. Bear with me, whilst I figure it out- you might be waiting for a while...

I cannot not start with Captain Nemo. I first watched him in June, and I haven't stopped. The first time I saw Nemo, I noticed this odd circuiting behavior, which I am still monitoring.
Anyway, this is him (who is actually a her).
From just this picture, it may be hard to identify him. But here is what you should look out for, to distinguish between Nemo and Wake (the other beluga in the tank).
Do you notice these very defined ridges near the beginning of his tail? Wake doesn't have these ridges, so if you see them you are looking at Nemo.






Here's what these 'ridges' look like when he's showing his belly. I call it his "figure eight". So if you hear me mention it, that's what I'm talking about.









I've already mentioned Wake, but here's him. There are two whales in Vancouver Aquarium's Beluga tank. Check out my other posts to get details that Vancouver provided me with. Realize, that both of these whales are actually female, one of which is the mother. I started off calling them Wake and Nemo, and when I found out their actual names, I couldn't say goodbye to Wake and Nemo, so there you have it.



















Hi Wakey. Basically, the only way I know that it's Wake, and not Nemo, is the absence of said ridges. But, keep in mind, he does have ridges, just nowhere near as extreme, and noticeable as Nemo's.








So that' Vancouver Aquarium's Belugas. Next are the sharks. As I side before, there are dozens more sharks than I've been able to identify. But for now these are the two that I can tell apart.




















So this is Bruce. As you can probably tell, I've watched Nemo far too many times. I can tell him apart, because, as far as I can tell, he's the only Sandtiger shark in the exhibit. And I think it goes without saying he has a pretty memorable appearance- cough, teeth.

And the other shark I've been able to identify is Solomon the Saw shark. Again, because it seems as if he's the only sawshark in the tank. So meet Solomon the Sawshark- again for those who've read my other posts.

PETA has filed, another complaint about SeaWorld. Following multiple allegations concerning the orcas, after the release of Blackfish, they've now filed concerning injuries on their cetaceans. Apparently, some of the whales and dolphins have been suffering from sunburns and other superficial injuries. Wow SeaWorld. Wow. That's all I can say. I'm not entirely certain what I think about this yet. I'm starting to get the feeling, that people are willing to attack SeaWorld about anything now, which isn't really the idea. Although, at this point I'm unaware of the severity of these allegations. So I will not be making my mind up yet. You can though. Just thought this was interesting. Keeping y'all posted.

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Major companies, partners, stockholders, and large portions of the public have voiced their concerns over SeaWorld's orcas. Now add three MORE former SeaWorld trainers. Having seen first hand what this business forces these cetaceans to go through, has now made them important activists against it. Reports from people directly in the industry, such as this, make me stand more firmly in my support against captive orcas. At its current state, this industry is evidently not helping these animals in any way. Whilst, certain zoos, you can argue, are redeemed by conservation efforts (sometimes, many times over), captive orcas in SeaWorld, are reaping little in terms of benefit.

They say that they've expanded research on orcas. In Blackfish, it was revealed that much of that 'research' is misleading, and tampered with to better fit their story. Such as the age of killer whales, which is actually considerably higher in wild populations.

I've got to say SeaWorld, the evidence is pretty incriminating.

Shark Webcam, courtesy of Shark Lagoon

Just in case you want to see what I mean (check out my last post).

The water really is murkier now! I'm not crazy.

Shark Webcam, courtesy of Shark Lagoon

Alright, this shark does make me understand peoples' fear a little more. Bruce (I've decided to call him Bruce), does invoke a deeply ingrained sort of fear.

Well anyway, here's Bruce. I believe he is a a Sand Tiger Shark.

 Take a look at those teeth!

Bruce, still has a very streamlined figure, yet I feel like it's less so than the reef sharks. He also swims much slower than them.

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A few days ago I started writing a post about racehorses: I was unable to finish my thoughts, as my head was starting to fall onto the keyboard- that would've led to some interesting sentences.

So I started to write about the use of drugs in the industry. Well, as many of you might not know, illegal drugs have become a staple in the industry. Drugs, that mute pain in horses, drugs that are given to horses that don't show symptoms, drugs that numb their legs etc. etc. There are drugs that are legal to use, however, they are only intended for horses that actually need them. For example pulmonary medication, for horses that have genuine lung issues, not to simply improve their performance. These pain masking drugs are one of the biggest causes of injury in racehorses, these horses don't receive the signals (they would normally receive) telling them to take it easy, and thus end up severely injuring themselves. I read once, it's actually better when horses are given illegal drugs, as it is easier to detect, and then that horse and the trainer can be withdrawn from the race. The dangerous drugs are the legal ones, because, at the moment, controllers cannot tell whether or not the drugs have been administered for honest or dishonest reasons.

Dozens of horses are destroyed at racetracks. Every week. In the US alone. Two year old thoroughbreds are raced at "Undertack" shows every year. These horses are driven to speeds they'll never reach again, all in a bid to sell them for high prices. Many of these horses are put down, because they snap a leg, a cannonbone, or shatter a shinbone. Two year old horses, shouldn't be ridden, let alone raced. They are underdeveloped, and have not yet learned how to control their 500kg bodies. The combination of underdeveloped mind and body ends in countless tragedies. Many of these horses will end up in slaughterhouses.

So no, this is not a family friendly sport. At its current state, this industry is comparable to bull fighting.

Disclaimer: not all races, not all trainers, and not all horses, go through this. I'm certain there are honest people, who follow the guidelines and put their horse's well-being first. But it has reached a point, where this cannot go one without stricter sanctions, these horses are being forced to race. This isn't what they asked for.

Nemo is circuiting.
There's not much else to say.
Wake is nowhere to be seen. He's probably around the back.

Enjoy these pretty screenshots.

Beluga Webcam, courtesy of Vancouver Aquarium



I'll be back with another bland post in a couple of hours. I am literally just trying to keep track of when Nemo is circuiting and when he isn't. Sorry, if it's boring. Read my other posts.

Whenever I see articles such as this one: Eating Fish Could Help Antidepressants Work. I have not an inkling of how I should feel. I am happy, that someone, in this case someone suffering from depression, may be able to lead a better life; I am saddened that even more fish will probably be consumed as a result; and I am angry that people are still encouraging people to eat more fish (hence the title). It makes me wonder, what these people are thinking. Do they not realize that fish stocks are at an all time low? That many of our staple fish species are at the brink of collapse? That fish stocks can't even support current rates, let alone an increase? Are they simply ignorant? Or just don't care?

Of course, I support new research, that can improve suffering peoples' lives. But at what cost?

What angers me the most, is that in this case there are alternative solutions. They say eat fish. Fantastic. Make it even more likely for the ecosystem to collapse. Just go right on ahead. But, what they are talking about is Omega 3, and it's properties. I hear about this compound quite a bit, Omega 3. Fish, happen to have the highest concentration of the stuff, thus when something 'magical' is discovered about the substance, they tell people to eat fish. You realize there are other things that contain Omega 3? Such as seaweed. Is seaweed endangered? Can we cultivate seaweed independently of the ocean? YES. So what should we be encouraging people to eat: seaweed? Or fish, that are already on the brink of collapse?

What do you think would be the wise decision?

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