Latest news with #PacificWhaleFoundation
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Watch: Potential albino pygmy killer whale spotted off Hawaii
HONOLULU (KHON) — Whale watchers around Hawaii are crossing their fingers for another glimpse of what could be an albino whale. This particular whale species known as Blackfish resides in Hawaii year round, but what divers saw on March 28 off Makaha was an extremely rare sighting, according to marine biologists. 'We noticed there was a white baby with them,' said Travis Woo, a safety diver on Iruka Hawaii Dolphin Snorkeling Tours. 'My initial reaction was euphoria.' 'It's one of four species that we call Blackfish — because they're all kind of black in color and hard to distinguish,' said Dr. Jessica Jacob, assistant professor at Hawaii Pacific University. 'Based on the shape of the fin and the white lips, I would say it's a pygmy killer whale.' Experts said there has never been a sighting of a true albino whale of any species in Hawaii. There have been more common sightings of leucistic or lighter colored whales, however. 'It is potentially an albino individual, but there's really only two ways to confirm that. One is to do genetic sampling and look for that mutation that would cause a lack of pigmentation and lack of melanin production, which produces the color of individuals. Or, sometimes, you can examine the eyes of those individuals and the lack of color in their eyes makes them appear pink,' said Pacific Whale Foundation Chief Scientist Jens Currie. The Cascadia Research Institute stated the calf is in pretty rough shape with major sunburns and blistering. Jacob said it's hard for albino whales to reach adulthood because they are easier prey for predators. Maui dog makes an unlikely friend — a whale 'Usually these dolphins, they go and hunt … kind of far off shore and we don't see them that often, but we're seeing them hanging in closer to shore trying to guard this calf,' Woo said. 'So, they're sticking with it. We're all rooting for it and hopefully it makes it. It's unlikely, but it is possible.' These whale species are protected and it is illegal to come within 100 feet of the animals, according to marine biologists. 'If they approach you, that's different. You know, if you're idling, but you're not allowed to approach them,' Jacob said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Potential albino pygmy killer whale spotted in West Oahu
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Whale watchers are crossing their fingers for another glimpse of what could be an albino whale. 'We noticed there was a white baby with them,' stated Travis Woo, a safety diver on Iruka Hawaii Dolphin Snorkeling Tours. 'My initial reaction was euphoria.' Ala Moana restaurant employees locked out with no access to personal items This particular whale species known as blackfish resides in Hawaii year round, but what divers saw on March 28 off Makaha was an extremely rare sighting, according to marine biologists. 'It's one of four species that we call Blackfish because they're all kind of black in color and hard to distinguish,' said Dr. Jessica Jacob, assistant professor at Hawaii Pacific University. 'Based on the shape of the fin and the white lips, I would say it's a pygmy killer whale.' Experts said there has never been a sighting of a true albino whale of any species in Hawaii. There is however more common sightings of leucistic or lighter colored whales.'It is potentially an albino individual, but there's really only two ways to confirm that. One is to do genetic sampling and look for that mutation that would cause a lack of pigmentation and lack of melanin production, which produces the color of individuals. Or, sometimes, you can examine the eyes of those individuals and the lack of color in their eyes makes them appear pink,' said Pacific Whale Foundation Chief Scientist Jens Currie. The Cascadia Research Institute stated the calf is in pretty rough shape with major sunburns and blistering. Jacob said it's hard for albino whales to reach adulthood because they are easier prey for predators. Maui dog makes an unlikely friend — a whale 'Usually these dolphins, they go and hunt off of kind of far off shore and we don't see them that often, but we're seeing them hanging in closer to shore trying to guard this calf,' Woo said. 'So, they're sticking with it. We're all rooting for it and hopefully it makes it. It's unlikely, but it is possible.' These endangered species are protected and it is illegal to get within 100 feet of the animals, according to marine biologists. 'If they approach you, that's different. You know, if you're idling, but you're not allowed to approach them,' Jacob said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Donald Trump on Plastic Straws: 'They Don't Affect Sharks'
Since taking office, Donald Trump has signed a slew of executive orders, reversing some actions from the previous administration, adding new measures that are core to his agenda, and declaring on trade with America's neighbors, the flow of undocumented immigrants, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and various other ideas and institutions. The stock of Sharpies must've skyrocketed. Another issue in Trump's crosshairs in his first month back in office? Paper straws. On February 10th, the president signed an executive order with the goal of ending 'the procurement and forced use of paper straws.' Under the order, which is aimed at 'bringing back common sense, according to the White House, 'The irrational campaign against plastic straws has forced Americans to use nonfunctional paper straws. This ends under President Trump.' Watch Trump sign the order below, and listen until the end for his thoughts on plastic straws and sharks. "We're going back to plastic straws," Trump told the press during the signing at the White House on Monday. 'These things don't work, I've had them many times, and on occasion, they break, they explode. If something's hot, they don't last very long, like a matter of minutes, sometimes a matter of seconds. It's a ridiculous situation, so we're going back to plastic straws. I think it's okay.' As for the sharks?'I don't think that plastic is going to affect sharks very much, as they're munching their way through the ocean.' According to the Pacific Whale Foundation – an environmental research, education, and conservation organization – and they're 'Last Straw' initiative: 'Single-use plastics, such as drinking straws, are polluting the world's oceans at an alarming rate and endangering marine wildlife. The United States alone contributes 500 million straws daily to this plastic wasteland. That's enough straws to wrap around the earth 2.5 times each day.' And while sharks may be able to 'munch their way' through a plastic straw in the ocean, not all marine life can do the same. Sea turtles beware; Trump, and his war on paper straws, are back.
