The Whales-online Podcast

E01: Welcome + The Highlights and Lowlights of ACCOBAMS

info@whales-online.org — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:20:00 +0930

The introduction to whales-online weekly podcasts. Featuring an interview with Dr Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Chair of the Scientific Committee of ACCOBAMS, after the first Meeting of the Parties to a new regional whale and dolphin protection agreement in the Pacific Islands region. The discussion covers the development of a sister whale and dolphin protection agreement called ACCOBAMS (Agreement on the Conservation of whales, dolphins and porpoises in the Mediterranean and Black Seas) and considers the highlights, lowlights and lessons learned that might be able to be applied in the Pacific. This interview remains a favorite of the whales-online team. It is an inspirational leap of faith by Giuseppe in the whales-online project!

E02: Climate Change and the Marine Environment

info@whales-online.org — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 00:20:00 +0930

Featuring an interview with Chris Smyth, Marine Coordinator with the Australian Conservation Foundation, about the impact of climate change on the marine environment and the relevance of this to both whale and human populations. Chris highlights the importance and value of public pressure.

E03: The Science of Welfare

info@whales-online.org — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:21:04 +0930

Discussion with Philippa Brakes about science, welfare and the human evolution of our relationship with wild species of animals.

E04: Fisheries Catching Dolphins

info@whales-online.org — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:16:18 +0930

Discussion with Margi Prideaux about the conflicts between dolphins and developing world fisheries, the need to control distant water fleets and to improve regulations and enforcement.

E05: Dolphin Wisdom for Generation Next

info@whales-online.org — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:25:42 +0930

Discussion with Tony Bartram about an inspiring new educational program called "Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch" which is teaching school children the skills for real world scientific monitoring while inspiring young minds to protect dolphins and their habitats.

E06: Creating Connections - Protecting the Future

info@whales-online.org — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:21:16 +0930

Dissussion with Mick McIntyre, Director IFAW Asia Pacific, about creating connections and using media to develop conservation awareness. Mick relives his career in film and take us on a journey that connects his two worlds of film making and his current work in conservation.

E07: From sorrow springs optimism - conservation in the Pacific

info@whales-online.org — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:17:42 +0930

In the week of the announcement from scientists that the Baiji is now sadly extinct, we interview Sue Miller-Taei, Marine Programme Manager with Conservation International and Pacific Regional Adviser with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, about the challenges of conservation in the Pacific Ocean basin. Sue gives words to the sorrow we all share at the loss of the Baiji (also known as the Yangtze River dolphin) but also shines a light on the conservation leadership being demonstrated by countries and communities in the Pacific Islands Region.

E08: Translating Law into Culture - Conservation in the Caribbean

info@whales-online.org — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:22:40 +0930

This week we interview Courtney Vail, who is the Caribbean Programme Leader for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. Following on the theme of our first podcast with Guisepppe Notarbartolo di Sciara discussing regional work in the Mediterranean and in the Pacific, Courtney articulates the challenges and opportunities of developing a conservation mechanism in the Caribbean region. She explains the SPAW Protocol and provides an important insight into what makes for positive progress, and how the public might be able to focus their help.

E09: Opportunity Revealed - The World of International Environmental Law

info@whales-online.org — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:21:14 +0930

This week we speak with Professor Al Gillespie, an expert in international environmental law working within the academic system as a law professor, an author of significant note and also a consultant to government delegations and conservation organisations. Al describes a world that is often poorly understood – how precisely international law works, what does environmental law actually do and how is it relevant to protecting wildlife. He articulates the challenges, hurdles and conundrums of working in this field and gives some insight into a world where the pendulum can swing between significant disappointment and immense rewards.

E10: Learning though respect - studying dolphins without causing harm

info@whales-online.org — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week we speak with Dr Mike Bossley, a research scientist, educator, activist and academic, who has fused his many years of experience into a principled position of gently learning and leading by example. Mike’s current work is a long term behavioral study of a small community of bottlenose dolphins in the Port River, South Australia, where he learns as much about the dolphins as he does from the dolphins, providing insight into dolphin communities and our responsibly to interact with these animals with respect.

E11: Meshing skills to untangle whales

Whales-online — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week we speak with Dr Regina Asmutis-Silvia, Senior Biologist for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society in North America. Picking up on a recurrent theme, Regina is another research scientist, educator, and activist of note. Her work on safeguarding a future for whales off the east coast of the United States addresses entanglement in fishing gear through to whales being hit by ships and boats in the region. She speaks to the diversity of skills needed in conservation today – from being a scientist immersed in files and data through to a negotiator for the interests of the animals in political process.

E12: Anchoring hope – education delivering conservation

Whales-online — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week we speak again with Courtney Vail, who is the Caribbean Programme Leader for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. We didn’t feel like we had exhausted the dimensions of Courtney’s philosophy in our last interview with her. So, we have interviewed her again, but this time about the role of education in delivering conservation. Courtney takes us on a challenging journey to stop the drive hunt, capture and slaughter of pods, for the selection of a few dolphins for the captivity industry around the world. She demonstrates how this information can be made public, without extinguishing hope and optimism, but instead instilling personal action.

E13: Enchanted by Orca

Whales-online — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week we speak with Erich Hoyt an author, conservationist, scientist and wise elder for many in the conservation world. Uniquely blending conservation with writing, Erich is an award-winning author, with 15 books and hundreds of magazine articles on whales, dolphins, as well as ants, insects, wild plants and other subjects under his belt. He is a long-time member of many the Writers' Societies and Guilds as well as Scientific bodies focusing on Marine Mammals. Erich directs the first orca study in Kamchatka, and we explore the journey that lead him to a long term study of these animals which has uncovered some interesting knowledge about orca behavior, their relationships and the sophistication of their culture.

E14: Encounters with Humpbacks

Whales-online — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week we speak with Mike Donoghue, Senior International Relations Officer with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation. Mike has contributed decades of commitment to Pacific whale conservation as both a whale biologist and government official. Mike’s contribution and commitment to conservation of whales in this region is significant, but he has never lost his ability to speak to us all at the level that connects. In this interview we were pleased to have Mike explain the ‘art’ of whale field research and the collection of key data – tail flukes, genetic material and recordings of humpback whale song – it is rare to have such research explained in such an accessible way. It is clear throughout that Mike retains reverence for his subject.

E15: Protecting habitat, protecting home

Whales-online — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week we speak with Erich Hoyt, an author, conservationist and scientist who has a unique gift of blending conservation with compelling writing. We sought Erich’s insights about the development of protected area design for whales, dolphins and porpoises and to discuss his important book Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. Erich’s work has brought the value of whales, dolphins and porpoises as a focus for protected area design to the fore and made the science of this area accessible to governments and park managers around the world. His work has most importantly made us all aware that whales, dolphins and porpoises need their homes, and they need these areas to be safe harbors in what is an increasingly dangerous and degraded ocean.

E16: Leveraging law for whales

Whales-online — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week we speak with Nicola Beynon, the Wildlife and Habitat Program Manager for Humane Society International in Australia. The Humane Society is a global organisation who is at the forefront of setting the agenda for international and domestic conservation policies in many parts of the world. As a global organisation they have specialized in using law to protect wildlife. The most recent action they are involved in is a world first court case to force the Australian Government to face down Japan’s so-called scientific whaling programme in the Australian Whale Sanctuary in the Southern Ocean - a hunt that will be escalating to over 1000 whales in this next year. The Humane Society is pushing Australia to do something serious. Something that will stop the hunt.

E17: Respecting the Emotional Lives of Animals

Whales-online — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week we speak with Marc Bekoff, Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado and Fellow of the Animal Behavior Society, about his new book Animals Matter and his ideas about treating animals and the environment more humanely and compassionately. Marc’s book considers the full spectrum of topics relating to animals in the human world including animal sentience and animal emotions.
Marc explains to whales-online that the difference between humans and non-humans animals are differences in degree, rather than difference in kind, and that it is good science to say that animals experience emotions. He shares some important insights about the need for human society to learn too co-exist with animals, and we should learn to adapt our lives to theirs rather than always asking them to adapt to their lives to us.
Photo credit: Marc and his friend, Willie. Photographer Jan Nystrom.

E18: Dolphin intelligence - confirming the mind in the water

Whales-online — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week we speak with Dr Lori Marino, Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology at Emery University in the United States, about her fascinating research into intelligence in dolphins.
The implications of her important and ground-breaking research are huge and confirm that dolphins are highly intelligent, highly social and highly complex animals with self awareness, societies and cultural traditions and that we humans must learn to treat with respect and sensitivity.
Indeed to quote Lori “the primate way is not the only way to be intelligent!”
Photo credit: Lori Marino with one of her research subjects examining himself in the mirror. Wildlife Conservation Society

E19: For the love of humpback whales

Whales-online — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week whales-online speaks with Wally Franklin, Director and Co-Founder, with Trish Franklin, of the Oceania Project and PhD Candidate at Southern Cross University studying humpback whales. Trish and Wally have been studying a population of humpbacks in Harvey Bay, on the east coast of Australia, since 1989. This significant and long term study is now providing some important insights and clues into the social structure of humpback whales in this particular area of the world. Amazingly they are now able to identify at least 2500 individuals from a total population of 10,000 whales. Photo credit: Trish and Wally, Founders of The Oceania Project aboard Karma in 1997

E20: ACCOBAMS at a crossroads - seeking political will to protect whales and dolphins

Whales-online — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week we speak with Dr Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Chair of the Scientific Committee of ACCOBAMS about the progress this important agreement is making. ACCOBAMS is an intergovernmental agreement that aims to protect whales and dolphins in the Mediterranean and Black Sea from a range of threats including bycatch, chemical and noise pollution and to also take protective measures like securing important habitat for the animals. But, much more political momentum needs to be created to really ensure that the whales and dolphins of this region notice a change. This is a job for civil society – because without public will there will be no political will and fine and progressive instruments like ACCOBAMS could be lost to us.

E21: Protecting whales and dolphins in the 21st century – why bother?

Whales-online — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week whales-online brings you an interview with Chris Butler-Stroud, CEO of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) about the organisations philosophical thinking about the protection of whales and dolphins around the world. Characteristically Chris articulates the heart of the matter – delving into what motivates us to work towards protecting these animals and reminds us all to be true to why we believe what we believe and that it is appropriate to be concerned, and have compassion, for the welfare of the individual – indeed that we need to recognize theses animals intrinsic right to life, freedom and their habitat.

E22: Studying living whales in the Southern Ocean

Whales-online — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week whales-online brings you an interview with Dr Simon Jarman, a Research Scientist with the Australian Antarctic Division, part of the Australian Department of Environment and Water Resources. Australia invests heavily in whale conservation research in the Southern Ocean through their Centre for Applied Marine Mammal Science, otherwise known as ACAMMS, and Australia’s policy against commercial whaling is well known internationally. So, with the departure of the Japanese whaling fleet for the southern ocean - an annual trip of the Japanese Scientific Whaling programme to hunt around 1000 minke, fin and now also humpback whales, we thought a more positive look on an alternate way might be some salve. Simon’s interview reveals that there is indeed another way. Good science can be done without killing whales. Photo credit: Courtesy Australian Antarctic Division © Commonwealth of Australia 2006

Special E23: The truth about scientific whaling

Whales-online — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:16:28 +0930

For this special episode whales -online brings you an with Philippa Brakes, Senior Biologist with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. Both Philippa and WDCS have been involved in the campaign to stop whaling for a considerable amount of time. In speaking with Philippa it seems clear that Japan’s scientific whaling hunt is a misuse the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling and she reveals an interesting insight into the true commercial nature of this hunt. This isn’t about science – it is about making money, but even that isn’t being done very well. Photo credit: Mark Simmonds, Philippa Brakes and Jo Clark at IWC in 2006. Photographer: WDCS

E24: CMS and the power of partnership for whales and dolphins

Whales-online — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week whales-online brings you an interview with Mr Robert Hepworth, Executive Secretary with the Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (also known as CMS), an important part of the United Nations family. This interview is a rare opportunity to hear in detail the thoughts of one of the world’s real leaders in conservation. Rob is also a champion for a legitimate role for civil society in implementing real conservation in many areas of the world. 2007 is the United Nations Year of Dolphin and Robs enthusiasm about this celebratory year is clear. Again, he feels the development of partnership has been a key element of the campaign and it is justifiably proud about the growth of community level interest in protecting dolphins. Photo credit: Robert Hepworth Photographer: WDCS

E25: Sperm whale societies - revealing cultures, clans and fascination

Whales-online — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week whales-online brings you an interview with Professor Hal Whitehead from Dalhousie University. Hal has spent the last 25 year studying the social organization and culture of sperm whales, in the South Pacific since 1985 and the northwest Atlantic since 1986. His long-term study has revealed important insights into the complex social structures and culture of sperm whales. Like many who have spoken to us on whales-online, Hal hopes for a future where we develop protection mechanisms that don’t only focus on individual threats, but mitigate the myriad of problems these animals face and protect the habitats that they depend upon. We apologize to Hal and our listeners about the quality of the recording. Circumstances conspired against us this week! However, we hope our listeners still enjoy the wisdom Hal shares with us. Photo credit: Hal Whitehead

E26: Demystifying the climate change talks – implications for whales, dolphins and porpoises

Whales-online — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week whales-online’s own Dr Margi Prideaux demystifies the climate change talks and explains the background, the science and the political negotiations taking place in Bali this week. She describes, in plain English, the Kyoto Protocol and details the focus for a post Kyoto deal, with an emphasis on what will be necessary to save the future, not only for ourselves, but also for whales, dolphins and porpoises. Give us your feedback – rate this podcast Episode tags - climate change, Kyoto protocol, whale, dolphin, porpoise, wildlife, protection Photo credit: Margi Prideaux Photographer: Cheyne Morris

E27: In Defense of Dolphins: The New Moral Frontier

Whales-online — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week whales-online’s speaks with Hilton Professor of Business Ethics and Director of the Centre for Ethics and Business, Thomas White, from the Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, about his recently published book In Defense of Dolphins: The New Moral Frontier.
As a philosopher Thomas brings a unique clarity to a subject that perplexes many people. We have done the science about dolphins– about what they can do, how they interact, how they live – but where does it lead us? He carefully and clearly explains that, in dolphins, humans have truly encountered an "alien intelligence" – that dolphins can be regarded as "nonhuman persons" and therefore should valued as individuals.
Therefore it is logical that from an ethical perspective, the injury, deaths and captivity of dolphins at the hands of humans is as wrong as it would be for any person. This is an important and insightful point – we finally understand that the challenge for that humankind is that we can no longer pretend that dolphins are just 'animals' - they are far more than this - they are ‘who’ not ‘what’ – they are ‘persons’.
Reviewers have said that “In Defense of Dolphins - is the most important book ever written about these animals.” And, we agree!

Give us your feedback – rate this podcast
Episode tags - Thomas White, non-human persons, rights, whale, dolphin, porpoise, wildlife, protection, the whales-online podcast
Photo credit: Thomas White

E28: Insight into dolphin society

Whales-online — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:15:28 +0930

This week whales-online speaks with Dr David Lusseau, Lecturer in Marine Populations at the University of Aberdeen, about his long-term research into the ecology of populations of bottlenose dolphins. His research specifically looks at how the environment in which they live shapes their individual societies. This is important to understand because it speaks to what the animals need to maintain their societies and from this research we can then understand what aspects of their environment – their habitat or their home – that we need to protect on their behalf. His research also reveals that certain individuals play key roles in their societies, revealing an incredible depth and complexity to bottlenose dolphins as a species.
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Episode tags - David Lusseau, bottlenose, society, environment, dolphin, wildlife, protection, the whales-online podcast
Photo credit: David Lusseau

E29: Whales, dolphins and the new climate change deal

Whales-online — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:15:28 +0930

Confused about climate change? Whales-online’s own Dr Margi Prideaux provides a whale and dolphin relevant update from the Bali climate change talks.
Margi explains what the Bali Roadmap will do, and what is possible for whales and dolphins in the new post Kyoto climate change deal to be negotiated by December 2009.
Join the debate! should wild species be accommodated in the post kyoto new climate change deal?
Give us your feedback – rate this podcast
Episode tags – climate change, Kyoto protocol, now global deal, whale, dolphin, porpoise, wildlife, protection
Photo credit: Margi Prideaux Photographer: Cheyne Morris

E30: Whale and dolphin news roundup

Whales-online — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:15:28 +0930

The Whales-online Podcast roundup of global whale and dolphin news.
Join the debate! should wild species be accommodated in the post kyoto new climate change deal?
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Episode tags – entanglement, whaling, Indus River Dolphin, captivity, whale, dolphin, porpoise, wildlife, protection

E31: Whale and dolphin news roundup

Whales-online — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:15:28 +0930

The Whales-online Podcast roundup of global whale and dolphin news.
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Episode tags – entanglement, standing, whaling, Vaquita, whale song, whale, dolphin, porpoise, wildlife, protection

E32: Do animals think?

Whales-online — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:15:28 +0930

Whales-online speaks with Dr Clive Wynne, Associate Professor at the University of Florida about the interesting subject of how humans perceive the intelligence of animals. Clive explains to whales-online that his research seeks to sweep all the debris of traditional views of animals, now mixed up with mauled science, right off the table and start again. In so doing he describes some of the many myths about animal minds, without detracting from the wonders of the natural world.

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Episode tags – animal intelligence, cognition, do animals think, whale, dolphin, porpoise, wildlife, protection
Photo credit: Clive Wynne

E33: The ecology of fear - sharks shaping dolphin social structures

Whales-online — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:15:28 +0930

Whales-online speaks with Dr Mike Heithaus of Florida International University about the work of the Shark Bay Marine Ecosystem Research Group and their important investigations in the role of predators in this pristine wilderness area.
Shark Bay, Western Australia is one of the very few undisturbed seagrass ecosystems left anywhere in the world and Mike’s research reveals complexity in the relationship between sharks, dolphins and the other members of the Shark Bay system. He describes the ecology of fear and how this has influenced the social structure of dolphins in Shark Bay.

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Episode tags: Mike Heithaus, Shark Bay Marine Ecosystem Research Group, shark bay, bottlenose dolphin, whale, dolphin, porpoise, wildlife, protection, the whales-online podcast
Photo credit: Mike Heithaus

E34: Whales and dolphins living in an ocean of noise

Whales-online — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:15:28 +0930

Whales-online speaks with Dr Lindy Weilgart, Research Associate at Dalhousie University Department of Biology. Lindy explains how the sources of human generated noise – from shipping, seismic and sonar – generate a range of impacts from chronic noise which increases stress levels and impacts on health through to acute impacts where animals can strand or drown at sea. Lindy also indicates there are solutions – from modifying activities or technology to tune down the noise or avoiding areas that are sensitive to whales and dolphins.

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Episode tags: Lindy Weilgart, noise pollution, shipping, seismic and sonar, whale, dolphin, porpoise, wildlife, protection, the whales-online podcast
Photo credit: Lindy Weilgart

Notice E35: Podcast offline for site and server maintenance

Whales-online — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:15:28 +0930

Dear whales-online site visitors and podcast audience The Whales-online Podcast will be offline for a few weeks while we do some necessary site and server maintenance. We hope that the inconvenience will be minimal, and trust that you will bear with us through this period. There is a small chance that when the podcast comes back on-line podcast subscribers may receive old podcast episodes again. We apologize in advance if this happens, and want you to know that we are doing everything in our power to ensure that it does not. The next new podcast episode will be E36. We are planning to post this on Friday 14th March. Thank you for all your support and encouragement. See you on the other side! Geoff and Margi