Some much needed good news on the whaling front, Iceland is not going to be slaughtering it's quota of 150 fin whales this year, which was one of the many goals put forth by activists at the International Whaling Commission meeting this year.
Greenpeace, and other organizations, such as NDRC, have been urging the Obama Administration to put sanctions on Iceland to urge them to discontinue their illegal whaling practices but it seems the lack of demand for whale meat has led the Country to cancel its planned whale season.
Unfortunately, it is only a temporary victory since it has more to do with Japan's tragic earthquake and tsunami than anything else and their inability to store the whale meat. The pressure must continue to keep the slaughter from going on in future seasons.
And to end on something positive, The National Resources Defense Council has a great piece entitled, This Week in Whales
More evidence that whales are cool: Sperm whale grandmas take care of the kiddies while moms feed. Sperm whales love to eat deep-dwelling squid, which leads them to dive to depths of hundreds or thousands of feet for up to 40 minutes when feeding. This could cause a problem for nursing mothers as their calves cannot dive as deep or for as long a period. Fortunately, grandmas and aunts beyond breeding age come to the rescue by caring for multiple young sperm whales at or near the surface while nursing mothers fulfill their calamari cravings.