SAVE THE WHALES! No, Really. Save.the.whales.

I was absorbed in a (what I've discovered to be fictional) documentary about mermaids, when the marine biologist in me decided it was time to raise some awareness.  Not about the (all too convincing) evidence of real mermaids; but about the dire effects of sonar transmissions to marine life in open waters.

I'm guessing this urge to protect wildlife stems back from the day I learned that the trees produced the oxygen we breathe.  Maybe everyone's initial response isn't an overwhelming love for nature, but mine was.

The United States Navy uses sonar as a training mechanism, as well as a mapping tool.  The sonar can detect something, such as a foreign submarine tutting towards our coast, from up to 300 miles away.

My concern here, though, lies with the dolphins, whales and orcas; who literally lie, beached on the sand, because they, along with other marine mammals, attempt to get as far away from the sonar as possible.

National security has been the government hype word since 9/11.  All you have to say is you're doing something for the sake of 'national security' and all of the sudden, no more questions asked.  At what point does our own 'national security' (guarding against our own kind) outweigh the security of the things that do no evil to us.  (Yes, there are shark attacks, but that's nature, folks!)

Alex Stone, an environmental program manager with the Navy's Pacific Fleet, told NPR in April of this year, "We think that the mitigation measures are effective, but it's true. I mean, you're never going to see every marine mammal that's there."

An article from 2005 in the Sydney Morning Herald (GOOD READ)

Sonar has been linked to hearing loss in sea life, as well as deterring whales from feeding.  Marine Mammal Science claims the animals even stop vocalizing during the sonar transmissions. Just like the echolocation used by these mammals to communicate and navigate, the sonar emits low frequency sound waves that can travel up to four times as fast underwater, according to marine scientist Brandon Southall in the NPR interview.

And what efforts for mitigation do they take, you might ask.  At least according to Stone, they have lookouts to make sure no marine life is around.  Now, riddle me this: Can we see from the top of a ship to the bottom-most depths of the ocean?

The article, 'Does Military Sonar Kill Marine Wildlife?' in Scientific American claims, ". . . evidence shows that whales will swim hundreds of miles, rapidly change their depth (sometime leading to bleeding from the eyes and ears), and even beach themselves to get away from the sounds of sonar."

While I am glad they will admit there is no way of knowing if the marine life is affected, I am hard-pressed to believe that there is no other way of training.

Luckily, the answers may be out there, it's just up to us to make them listen.  All thanks to Dr. Paul Nachtigall, a researcher from Hawaii, who was interviewed in 'Whales Can Adjust Their Hearing', a BBC Nature News story from 2012.

My passion is for life and the living.  For the breathing, be it through lungs, gills or photosynthesis.  And the pursuit against mindless killing of all things.  We all serve a purpose, and we all impact the world in our own way.  When the cost of our actions is life, and there is another way around it, we should act differently.

 Are we willing to sacrifice the mysteries that lurk beneath the ocean just in case another country decides to send a submarine our way?

"There aren’t other government agencies out there proposing activities that will have anywhere near this level of impact on wildlife, much of which is endangered. The Navy seems very proud of the fact that it has conducted such a “comprehensive” (in its opinion) analysis of impacts. But where’s the pride in its development of alternatives that allow it to achieve its training and testing needs, while dramatically reducing the impact to whales and dolphins?"

-Zak Smith of the Natural Resources Defense Council

According to the NPR story, it's the National Marine Fisheries Service that has domain over these practices.  I say it's about time to send some research their way.

Takin' a page outta Robert Frost's book...

Today, my best friend and I were headed to (often crowded) Piedmont Park for a quick trip around the lake that we've walked around too many times to count.  On our way, though, we drove past The Morningside Nature Preserve off of Lenox Rd.  With a quick flick of the blinker and a split second change of plans, we quickly discovered our newest favorite stomping ground. 

The steep, yet short hills we gradually conquered lead us beneath the power lines and eventually to a stunning far-off view of the downtown Atlanta skyline.  After crossing the valley beneath the power lines (having ventured deeper into the grass for an even better view.. don't let the shrubbery bewilder you.), we discovered an extensive path through a wooded area.  Aside from the apartments in the distance, through the trees, I felt very far from the city surrounding us.

We came across several people walking their dogs.  Or their dogs were walking them, rather.  The dogs greeted us off of leashes, with panting tongues.  (And while, personally, it does not bother me as long as I'm allowed to pet the fur balls, I have been informed this is not customary according to park regulations...)
At the site of two girls hiking, sans dogs, one bearded and bundled dog walker exclaimed, "What are you doing out here?  It's too cold!"  

 I'm hoping now that the forty degree weather was the only thing keeping the crowds from this peaceful nature preserve.  I just find it so much more intriguing to leap across rocks and feel the burn in my thighs pulling my legs uphill.  On real mud and grass and leaves.  No concrete.  Only in the most necessary areas is the Morningside park accommodated with steps and a wooden pathway.  Otherwise, it's good ol' hiking all the way around.