“I think that whales, and indeed all cetaceans, are largely misunderstood creatures… Beautiful, powerful, and immensely intelligent, the whale is one of the most incredible things alive on our planet today. Watching their family groups, social circles, distinct speech patterns per tribes, the emotions that they express, well, it’s no wonder that more and more countries are adopting a policy of non-human person in regards to their protection. 

"There have been documented cases of whales being caught in fishing nets and so on, who despite being panicked, were very still when the rescuers came to get them out. And once free, they very gently went to each person to thank them with a little head bump, acknowledging their assistance. 

"Dolphins, one of the smaller cetaceans, have been known to assist lost divers and other species, as well; allowing them to temporarily join their pods and bringing them back to safety. 

"There’s still so much that we don’t know about these fantastic animals, but unfortunately, many of them are endangered and populations are dwindling due to our misunderstanding of the habitat in which they live and the complicated psychology that they possess. Orcas, for example, have been captured and kept in holding tanks at theme parks that are far too small for them to live healthy, happy lives, and go through so much suffering just for human entertainment. It’s heart-breaking. 

"I hope that as awareness of the unique attributes of the cetaceans spreads that we will all be more conscientious of our actions and will make proactive changes in our habits so that we can peacefully coexist, even thrive together, in this world.”

I still think they’re the scariest things in the world.

“Oh my dear, sweet, munneko-chan… you are objectively wrong, but I will let it slide tonight as you adopted one of the Salish Sea Orcas as your own this past summer."