Separate
studies by experts such as American neurobiologist Dr. Lori Marino of
Emory University, French neurobiologist Dr. Georges Chapouthier at Marie
Curie University in Paris, and Dr. Hal Whitehead of Canada’s Dalhousie
University have all affirmed the intelligence and sentient nature of
whales.
Their findings suggest that whales are not only highly
sensitive to situations of pain and suffering, but that they also
experience other qualities previously thought to be exclusive to humans.
These include self-awareness and identity, complex communication,
abstract thought, and a sophisticated matrilineal culture. Dr. Whitehead
and colleagues observed that a whale communal song is learned by all
males in an ocean and evolves over months and years.
In fact,
whales’ brains contain cerebral areas specific for cognition and
emotional processing – most likely evolved from social interaction.
This
human-like quality of whales is also understood by Mr. Bryant Austin, a
US photographer who has been entrusted by these immense beings to
photograph them from as nearby as 6 feet. Mr. Austin recalled the first
encounter that led to what is now his life’s work.
Bryant Austin – Founder and president, Marine Mammal Conservation Through the Arts, US photographer (M):
I felt a gentle touch on my back, and I turned to look, and I was
eye-to-eye with a 50-ton female humpback whale who was behind me. She’s
bigger than a school bus, and she extended her 15 foot pectoral fin,
which was like your arm, to reach out and touch me and let me know that
she was behind me,
that I ended up accidentally between her and her calf.
But
she showed such great restraint not to bring me any kind of accidental
or unintentional harm. And that’s when I was so struck, I was so close
to a whale’s eye, and her expression in her eye was so calm and mindful.
She was no longer a whale to me, it was a life changing moment.
VOICE:
The photographic images of these whale individuals, who approach Mr.
Austin on their own and gingerly reposition themselves as not so to
accidentally hurt him with their sheer strength, are being used to raise
awareness and concern about such destructive activities as whaling.
Bryant Austin (M):
It just breaks my heart to think of a wild creature that’s so friendly,
so inquisitive and so gentle to me, that my species is bringing so much
suffering to them.
No future generations will have these
opportunities and it’s really what we do right now that’s going to
ensure that they will be here. Many may go extinct in this century for
the first time in recorded human history if more isn’t done.
VOICE:
We thank photographer Bryant Austin and the leading researchers for
your further insights into the intelligence and sentient nature of these
peaceful giants of the seas. May humanity swiftly awaken to respect all
life forms and preserve the balance of our ecosphere.
Highlighting
the importance of protecting lives to save the planet, Supreme Master
Ching Hai has often reminded of animal species’ noble qualities and
that they must not be harmed, as during an interview published in the
December 16, 2009 edition of The Irish Dog Journal
Supreme Master Ching Hai: If
we want to know what we are killing, scientists discover more every day
about the intelligence and sensitivity of the animal kingdom. Whales
for example are able to identify different fellow cetacean’s calls
through the ocean waters; similar to how we humans can identify our
friend’s voice across a crowded room.
Furthermore, they are very
polite. They wait for their turn to speak. Believe this? Yet these same
lovely sentient beings are hunted down with explosive harpoons that
cause a slow, slow, slow and torturously painful death.
We
cannot call ourselves animal lovers if we only extend that love to
certain animals. So, please, everyone: switch to the wholesome,
nutritious, and conscience-freeing vegan diet.
And with the whole
world extending such compassion to animals and attracting immense
blessing from the animals, our planet’s atmosphere, of course, would
stabilize and even change to a more heavenly-like, permeated with
feelings of peace and love.