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I can say with 100% certainty that there is nothing at which I am an expert. There are, however, a few things of which I am incredibly passionate about. Orca whales are one of those things. While there are topics worth biting my tongue over, this is one passion I freely share my firm opinion on.

Photo: TylerIngram on Flickr

The story of the whale trainer at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida that was killed by a captured orca whale – more commonly known as the “killer whale” – has reached all corners of the globe since Wednesday afternoon’s tragedy. An event such as this one naturally triggers a landslide of questions. Perhaps the most commonly asked question is simply: how could this happen?

Dawn Brancheau was an experienced trainer, having worked with these magnificent mammals for 16 years. The whale at the centre of this story is a 12,000 pound male named Tillicum, a creature that Dawn was incredibly familiar with and one whom she had created a working relationship with through training. So what provoked Tillicum to drag Dawn under the water and into an untimely and heart-rending death?

The question of how this could have happened seems, to me, to have a rather simple reasoning. Orca whales, like any animal on this planet, is at its core a wild animal. No amount of domestication can ensure a human’s ultimate safety around animals – whether we’re dealing with whales and dolphins or cats and dogs. As an expert in her field, I have no doubt that Dawn was fully aware of the daily risks she took in working with Tillicum. While what happened is wholly unfortunate, at the end of the day it can’t be unexpected either.

Photo: TylerIngram on Flickr

Many news reports that have come out in the wake of this event have suggested that it’s likely Tillicum simply thought of Dawn as a “toy” and was merely playing with her. Though defined as predatory, orca whales (which are actually a species of dolphin, not whale) aren’t generally thought to be a threat to humans and are, more often than not, peaceful creatures. That said, it can be contended that Tillicum was simply doing what comes naturally to him. If, on the other hand, what happened was rooted in aggression, we could consider his environment a chief contributing factor.

Oceanic mammals were created with the sea as their home and playground. To pluck them from the deep blue and confine them to the equivalent of a bathtub will surely have an effect. Imagine, if you will, being contained in a single room, left to circle endlessly while people peered in through windows on all four sides. It would be enough to drive you mad, wouldn’t it?

And so the great debate regarding whales in captivity has kicked up again and everyone is sure to have an opinion. Scientists claim that capturing whales is the best way by which to study them and learn of their nature and habits in order to assist in conservation programs. It would seem to me that the most effective environment to study whale behavior regarding conservation is in the wild. But then again, what do I know? I’m not an orca expert, just an orca lover.

Contribute your two cents: Do you think keeping whales in captivity is an acceptable practice? Should they be released into the wild?

It’s no secret that I’m a true Island girl – born and raised – but few know that I was actually born on the north Island. Many communities north of Campbell River are heavily populated with proud First Nations bands who have been able to maintain a grasp on their heritage through a deep sense of community. The Village of Alert Bay on Cormorant Island is no exception.

Photo: Loutron Glouton on Flickr

Located just an hour southeast of my hometown, Port Hardy, access to Cormorant Island is available through a scenic 45-minute ferry ride from Port McNeill.

Map: Air Adventure Tours

It’s impossible to decide on the most beautiful aspect of Alert Bay. While the incredible cultural history of the area is something to be revered, the infinite wildlife around every corner is simply mind-blowing. It’s not unusual to see anything short of bald eagles, sea otters, humpback whales, grizzly bears, orca whales and the occasional sea lion.

Photo: ACCESS

Photo: Bluewater Adventures

Photo: Seasmoke Whale Watching

For longer than I can remember, I’ve felt a strong and unwavering connection to the people and history of the First Nations bands of British Columbia. Alert Bay is home to ‘Namgis First Nation, a sub-group of the Kwakwaka’wakw. 1999 proved to be an historical and harmonious year for the tiny island village as the band signed a document with the Village of Alert Bay, both agreeing to support civic and cultural matters impacting the community.

Photo: iGrrl on Flickr

Photo: oinegue on Flickr

Photo: Loutron Glouton on Flickr

Naturally, Alert Bay is also home to many phenomenal First Nations artists, including John Lancaster. A few summers ago, I purchased one of his orca whale rings for myself on the First Nation reserve in the Comox Valley.

Many First Nations tribes have powerful beliefs about what the orca whale represents, but it is particularly of importance to me because it symbolizes both family and strength.

Those who wish to visit Alert Bay will be treated to a truly unique experience in that, while it offers the modern-day eco-tourism staples of kayaking, hiking and mountain biking, it is also a place that remains unchanged after so many years. A delicate balance between history and cultural diversity is undoubtedly the key contributing factor to the sense of community in Alert Bay.

It hardly needs to be said that Alert Bay is a picture-perfect example of natural beauty.

Photo: iGrrl on Flickr

Photo: Chris Corrigan on Flickr

Because the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve is located only 22 kilometres south of Cormorant Island, some areas surrounding the Village of Alert Bay are part of a protected nature area that can be explored by boardwalk.

Photo: Loutron Glouton on Flickr

Photo: magnopere on Flickr

Photo: iGrrl on Flickr

Alert Bay is a vibrant community and a wonderful place to visit on your “staycation” within British Columbia this summer. As I stated, access to Cormorant Island is by way of BC Ferries with a number of accomodations available for hosting. This is in addition to various restaurants, museums and cultural destinations. For more information about Alert Bay, please visit the village’s website. To learn more about the First Nation culture of Alert Bay, please visit the ‘Ngamis First Nation online.

British Columbians are fortunate to live in a part of the world that is so deeply steeped in natural beauty around every tree, under ever rock and in every ocean current. This could not be more true, however, than for the residents of Vancouver Island. The abundance of wildlife that call the Island and its surrounding waters home is astounding.

Photo: MagicLens on Flickr

Etched into the eastern shores of northern Vancouver Island is the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve. Named after a man famously known for identifying and photographing the countless pods of killer whales that call the area home, Robson Bight has been a Provincially-sanctioned reserve to protect the local killer whale population since 1982. The name Robson comes from Lieutenant Commander Charles Rufus Robson who died in Victoria, BC in 1861.

Photo: BC Parks

Stretching over 1200 hectares of shoreline, all boats are forbidden from entering the reserve and the park area around it is restricted to non-destructive recreational activities such as hiking and photography. Fishing, camping and hiking are strictly forbidden. These regulations are key in creating a safe refuge for these gentle giants.

Photo: Traveler’s Voice

While it is unclear exactly how many killer whales and their pods travel up and down British Columbia’s shores, what is known is how drastically they’re being affected by the fishing industry, toxic waste, boating and sonar interference (as whales rely on this method of communication with each other).

Photo: Ralph Lee Hopkins/Nature’s Best Photography

Robson Bight Ecological Reserve is perhaps best known in recent media as being the site of a tragic and preventable man-made disaster on August 20, 2007 when a barge illegally traveling through the sound lost its load, dumping 11 vehicles and pieces of forestry equipment into the water. The vehicles – and over 10,000 litres of diesel fuel – laid 350 metres below the surface for almost two years until it was recovered in May of this year.

Photo: Stubbs Island Sightings

Thankfully, the damage to the whales’ sanctuary was minimal. Crown prosecutors laid charges against Chemainus-based logging contractor Ted LeRoy Trucking, Campbell River’s Gowlland Towing and the skipper of the tugboat Kathy L in July, 2008.

Photo: Northern Lights Expeditions

While recreation in the area is extremely limited, the nearby community of Telegraph Cove is a hot spot for eco-tourism and nature-spotting with a focus on sea kayaking. Though it’s my personal belief that the killer whales should be left alone to bask in their natural environment free of interference, many of these sea kayaking ventures are careful to respect the area and give the killer whales a wide, safe berth. Keep in mind that even ecotourism is prohibited in Robson Bight, so all whale watching is done from a safe distance outside of the designated area.

Photo: Wildheart Adventures

Anyone lucky enough to have explored this area knows how precious the landscape is. Nothing lasts forever, and if we don’t take active steps to protect the land we call home, perhaps even this generation will see the day when what was will no longer be. The trees, the ocean, the air, the rocks and even the whales are gifts to us all and we must always be sure to view them as such – not to be taken for granted.

Photo: Our BC

To learn more about Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve, please visit BC Parks’ website. A guideline for viewing or encountering killer whales in the wild can be viewed here in PDF format. If you’re interested in adopting a killer whale and contributing to the conservation of the local population, please visit the British Columbia Wild Killer Whale Adoption Program.

Vancouver Island is essentially surrounded by one endless beach and as much as the terrain changes, one thing remains certain: beauty. Kilometres of sand are constantly licked by refreshing salty water. While the east coast of the Island is certainly not without its charm, nothing compares to the shores of the west coast.

Photo: CanadaGood on Flickr

Nestled at the half-way point between Port Renfrew and Sooke on the southern part of the Island, China Beach is one of those special spots that seems untouched. Located next to Jordan River, it is part of Juan de Fuca Provincial Park.

Photo: Water Lily Lane

Like most beaches on the west coast of the Island, it’s not unusual to see many surfers and seals alike bobbing in the salty Pacific Ocean water.

Photo: Spiritwood Images on Flickr

Photo: maplemusketeer on Flickr

While a perfect setting for camping, picnics, swimming and sandcastles, China Beach is also the trailhead for Vancouver Island’s famous Juan de Fuca trail. The Juan de Fuca trail stretches 47 kilometres along the shore to Botanical Beach – most hikers make the journey in two and a half days.

Photo: nuanc on Flickr

Photo: maplemusketeer on Flickr

China Beach offers endless stones to be overturned and a number of trails to be explored, but grey whale migration is certainly a sight to see. During the spring and fall, it’s estimated that up to 17,000 of these beautiful behemoths make the journey past China Beach.

Photo: BinoCanada on Flickr

Photo: Zero-X on Flickr

Photo: CanadaGood on Flickr

There’s certainly something surreal about watching the sunset and knowing that it’s simultaneously rising over Japan.

Photo: BinoCanada on Flickr

It should go without saying that if you plan on visiting China Beach or any of Vancouver Island’s other parks, please respect the land. Take your garbage with you, leave the vegetation alone and avoid any wildlife you may encounter. Bears, cougars and rogue ocean waves are frequent visitors to China Beach.

To visit, head west on Highway 14 past Sooke and click over to the BC Parks website for further information.

In July of 2001, one life would change a sleepy town on the West Coast of Vancouver Island forever.

Killer Whale L98 – more affectionately known around the globe as Luna – emerged from the ocean waters and unknowingly impacted a community, an island, a province and a country. The life Luna lived was an incredible one, and the ripple effect he had has been captured in a touching documentary entitled Saving Luna.

Photo: Byron Bay Film Festival/Mountainside Films

Knowing that I have a deep love and affinity for killer whales, Becky invited me to a private screening of the film at the Vancouver Aquarium. Naturally, I accepted in a heartbeat.

What started as a three-week journalism assignment about a curious orca calf for the husband and wife team of Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit turned into a three-year adventure.

When Luna first showed up in the Gold River area of Nootka Sound, people were perplexed how such a young killer whale was surviving at his age – let alone thriving – all alone. But soon enough, local residents were keenly aware that Luna was reaching out…

Killer whales, by nature, are social creatures – very much like humans. And when Luna found himself surrounded by creatures who were unlike him, he seemingly made the choice to communicate and show affection. While some considered Luna to be a nuisance, countless others fell deeply in love with Nootka Sound’s newest resident.

It wasn’t long, however, before controversy began to stir at a fervent rate. Saving Luna tells the tale of a whale, of the Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s decision to attempt to relocate Luna back with his pod, a community’s battle to adopt the whale and the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations’ deep desire to protect a creature that was so affectingly respected and understood.

Despite years of ongoing efforts, on March 10, 2006 Luna collided with the propeller of a local tug boat. He did not survive.

More than two years after Luna’s death, to this day no one truly seems to know why Luna graced the world with his presence. His playful antics and seemingly magical effect have been greatly mourned. Saving Luna begs many questions of its viewers: should Luna have rejoined his pod? Should he have remained in Nootka Sound where he chose to make his home and communicate with human beings? And most importantly, what does Luna represent in consideration of the love, affection and attention we as mammals all have an innate need for?

The film was concluded with a panel discussion including the film’s producers/directors, Jamie James of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht band, a member of the DFO and esteemed staff of the Vancouver Aquarium. If you’d like to find out more about this very special documentary, visit Saving Luna’s official website and view the trailer on YouTube.

P.S. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. By the time the credits rolled, there wasn’t a dry eye in the theatre.

In August, I made mention of a fast-growing oil slick in the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island. The protected waterway, which is banned even to kayakers and other recreational activities, was home to a toxic spill that spanned more than 14 kilometres after an overturned barge dumped a gross amount of diesel fuel.

The damage caused by the spill was, undoubtedly, devastating, but just as tragic was the lack of action taken by the Provincial Government to have the spill immediately cleaned up.

Photo courtesy of makeupanid on Flickr

Only now, nearly four months after the spill, is a submersible being lowered into the waters of Robson Bight to evaluate the scope of the destruction. Victoria-based A-Channel news reported on current activities in the Bight:

A manned submersible aboard the Aurora Explorer freight vessel is lowered into the water above five targets that have been identified as possible wreckage. Pilot Jeff Heaton will descend 370 metres and document what’s left of the logging equipment with a high-definition camera…and hopefully provide answers.

Jim Borrowman, a volunteer Warden of the reserve believes the best possible scenario is the fuel truck at the bottom of the ocean is empty now, with no diesel left in it to do any more damage. On the other hand, points out Dorthea Hangaard of the Living Oceans Society, if there is still a substantial amount of fuel involved, it could also be sucked out without lifting the equipment to the surface.

Hopefully this will initiate a more thorough and formal investigation into what actually happened in the killer whale sanctuary. I will keep you updated if and when more information becomes available.

A-Channel News Story

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Looking for a way to get into the Christmas spirit and do something charitable?

Play Santa for the animals!

Photo courtesy of ChromaticRat on Flickr

“Shelter animals are prone to depression from loneliness and boredom. Toys very much help stimulate the mind and provide moments of joy and comfort,” said Rhonda Sherwood, volunteer co-ordinator for the Vancouver shelter.

Sherwood acknowledges that while toys may seem like a luxury for shelter animals, they offer necessary enrichment, without which behavioural problems could develop.”

The wish list is a full one, with a need for balls, squeaky toys, Frisbees, blankets, towels, food, treats and whatever else may encourage healthy growth in needy animals.

If you’d like to help out and donate, please visit the Vancouver shelter this Sunday, December 16, 2007 between noon and 4:00 p.m. The shelter is located at 1205 East 7th Avenue. [Map]

Please be reminded that shelters around British Columbia house and care for injured, neglected, lost or abandoned animals 365 days a year, so feel free to help out whenever you can.

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And on a light end-note, my hunt for a new and fantastic mascara has come to an end. I’ve long been a user of Maybelline’s Full N’ Soft mascara, but it has of late been M.I.A. from the shelves at my local Shopper’s Drug Mart.

Last night I bit the bullet and shelled out for a pricier mascara, and after using it for the first time this morning, I’ve got to say that Smashbox’s Focal Point mascara is well worth the dough. Formulated with a special blend of waxes and polymers, it coats each lash individually, not as clumps. Yay!

Preliminary reports are emerging that five men of the Neah Bay, WA- based Makah tribe killed a California grey whale in the Straight of Juan de Fuca off the coast of Sooke, BC. Because the incident was based in American waters, the U.S. Coast Guard were the first to respond.

“We allow native hunts for cultural purposes. However, this does not appear to be of that nature so far,” said Mark Oswell, a law enforcement spokesperson for the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Though the five Makah men claimed they were hunting for traditional purposes, as the tribe has been fighting for rights to do so, it was apparent that they had carried out this hunt without any acknowledgment from their tribe.

Shawn Eggert of the Coast Guard confirmed “As far as we know these men didn’t have any kind of permission from the tribe.“

What has incensed me most in the method in which the whale was butchered. The whale was first harpooned but didn’t succumb to those injuries. If you can actually believe it, it’s speculated that the men used a machine gun (yes, an automatic weapon), to riddle the whale’s body with bullet holes.

The U.S. Coast Guard has since turned the five men over to the Makah tribal police and this matter is pending further investigation. I will keep you updated as more information with regards to this story is released.

Photos courtesy of Komo TV News