Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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What Do You Do About a Lost Whale?
May 29, 2007 1:47 PM
Day after day, for nearly two weeks now, we and other media outlets have been diligently reporting the progress of those two whales lost on the Sacramento River. NOAA, the Coast Guard, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, and countless volunteers are all involved.
The latest is HERE.
People are certainly reacting to the story; it's hard not to.
But I found myself in the middle of a debate this morning: er, hate to raise an ugly question, but isn't this an awful lot of effort? What if the whales are beyond saving? Couldn't the money be spent on Darfur, or habitat restoration, or education?
David Schoetz of our staff has written a piece about the costs of the operation, which I hope you'll read if you haven't found it already. It's HERE.
We found one newspaper, the Tuscaloosa News, asking the question in an editorial: "Is worrying about the fate of two whales that can’t seem to navigate properly worth it? Should we just let nature take its course?" The paper concludes, "If whales are symbolic of other wildlife species that are also in trouble, saving a few more whales probably won't hurt. And if saving whales makes us more receptive to the idea of saving habitats, it will do a world of good." The full editorial is HERE.
That's their take. Yours is welcome.
(Photo by Sarah Wilkin, NOAA Fisheries Service)
May 29, 2007 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (5)
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The editorial from the "Tuscaloosa News" has it right: saving a few animals in immediate peril will make us more receptive in saving entire habitats. Oftentimes, I think, we simply don't stop to consider the plights of endangered species until specific cases come to our attention, as in this instance. "Tis better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
Posted by: chuck | May 29, 2007 2:46:48 PM
Chuck, I appreciate the sentiment, but tend to disagree with the philosophy. We seem to focus on the minute, but ignore the big picture. We'll save the individual whale, but continue to pollute the ocean and drive the rest into extinction.
Posted by: Andy | May 29, 2007 3:04:53 PM
I believe every effort should be taken to save the whales. We are not alone on this planet. We are just one of the many mammals on earth. Whales are part of the mammals family :)
ScienceCastle.com
Posted by: Dr Franciscan | May 30, 2007 12:56:13 AM
I think it terrible that someone hit the two whales with their boat!
We certainly need to be careful when boating, shipping etc!
I am so glad the system finally got off their bums and did something but feel it took them way too long to get it together.
It seems the antibiotics did the trick and now the whales are in salt water which is all good! Just heard they are on their way to Alaska! Thank God!!!!
The man on local news who stated we should have not helped the whales should have a rock attached to his ankles and be dropped in the bottom of the sea! The ocean is these creatures home and what part of this does man not get? Polluting the ocean is so severe that many of these creatures have cancer! Man seems to be losing respect for himslef and all creatures! I hear you Chuck!
Thanks Victoria (Love the whales and dolphins)
Posted by: Victoria | May 30, 2007 2:42:47 PM
Leave the whales alone!!! what have they done 2 u???? Leave them be to do as they please!!!
Posted by: bustlerking58 | Dec 12, 2007 8:27:02 PM
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