Adopting a
Whale
While many people open their homes to cats or dogs, fewer think to adopt an animal that certainly won't fit on a leach. Humpback whales abound in Cape Cod waters, and for less than $20 you can help keep it that way.
The employees here at eCape recently made such an adoption. It was hard to choose just one: there are over 10,000 Humpbacks in the North Atlantic and our adoption agency, the International Wildlife Coalition, offered more than 50 whales. We settled on Mars, a gentle giant who frequently shows up on whale watches with her seven calves. (Two of her children, Nile and Seal, are also up for adoption.) The fee was $18 (and there are no pet toys or kitty litter to buy). In a few weeks, the IWC sent us everything we needed to know about our new 35 ton coworker.
We received a photo and complete biography of Mars, as well as a migration map to tell us where whales roam. Humpback whales spend their summers in cooler waters, like Cape Cod's, to feed. In winter, they travel thousands of miles toward the equator to breed and give birth. We also received a subscription to the IWC's "Whalewatch" newsletter, a personalized whale adoption certificate, and an "I Love My Humpback Whale" sticker.
Our contribution goes not only to protecting Mars, but also other marine life. The IWC operates a research boat named Quixote to rescue sea creatures from fishing nets and other dangers, help enforce wildlife protection laws, and conduct scientific studies. A portion also goes to the Cape Cod Stranding Network, a volunteer organization that attempts to save beached whales.
Humpback whales are the fifth largest animal on
the planet, growing to be 30-40 feet long. Despite their size, humpbacks are
acrobatic, earning their name from the way they dive out of the water and land
on their backs. They are also known for their whale songs, especially during
breeding season. Humpback whales are baleen whales, meaning they eat by
straining the krill, herring and plankton in seawater through several plates on
their upper jaw. Very noticeable on humpbacks are their huge pectoral fins,
which can be up to a third of the length of their entire body.
The "First Mate's Card" from the IWC earns discounts on a whale watch trip so we can visit our new daughter and grandchildren. When whale watching, there are several whale moves to look for. You might see a whale blow air and water through the blow hole on the top of their heads. A rare but special movement called breaching is when the whale propels itself out of the water, sometimes completely, then lands on its back in a huge splash. Make sure to wave when a humpback does the spy hop--popping out of the water to take a one-eyed look. They might wave back by raising a pectoral or tail fin.
The International Wildlife Coalition's whale adoption program can be found at http://whaleadoption.org/
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