Orca Predicament Ends Happily

The whales made it to freedom--without the assistance of humans. I was extremely happy to hear the news.

Trapped Orcas - January 2013

Why I actually care about a pod of Orcas is beyond me, but I do. Nature can be cruel and it is only humans that realize this. We are the only species on the planet able to mobilize ourselves against nature and win--sometimes.

And other times, even we lose miserably, like tsunamis.

I guess I rejoice when good things happen in seemingly hopeless situations. Because this situation seemed hopeless.

The situation was reminiscent of 1988 and Operation Breakthrough near Barrow, Alaska to free trapped gray whales..

One writer, made the following observation after the gray whales had made it to freedom:

Most importantly, I think there was and is a human lesson to learn from what happened with this International effort. Don't take this the wrong way, I love whales. I do. But I can't help but think it is amazing how much money and energy was expended, in brutal conditions, to rescue these whales. While it provided a nice diversion from the ongoing political races at the time, it remains sad to realize what we are willing to do for whales, yet we won't take the time or money needed to help out each other. Poverty, elderly folks being prisoners in their own homes, hungry children... all right here in America. It's wrong.

I really can't disagree, but then, we do what we can when we can and how can it be bad when we rally together for good?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD