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Baby Humpback Dies: Call for More Investigation Into Reasons

Target: New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change
Sponsored by: Care2

Colin the baby humpback whale gained fame for following yachts off the coast of Sydney, Australia and trying to suckle from them, having lost his mother. Several days went by while the injured calf grew weaker and weaker. Despite attempts to help him, including bringing in an aboriginal whale whisperer, the New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change decided the most humane option would be to euthanize him.

Despite Colin's tragic end, this experience can be used to strengthen the conservation and rescue efforts for future whales. The humpback whale has only recently been removed from the endangered species list - and we need to keep it that way! Call for a thorough investigation as to why Colin was abandoned so as to learn more about the behaviour of whales, and to provide better protection in the future.

For more information, see http://www.care2.com/news/member/509544259/854575

deadline: 8-22-2009
goal: 5,000

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Dear New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change,

Colin the whale captivated the public's attention for days, as the media documented his gravitation towards yachts and his attempts to suckle from them. With Colin's unfortunate death, I urge you to conduct a thorough investigation as to why the whale was abandoned by his mother. This experience can lead to further research about the seemingly bizarre behaviour of whales, as well as to the development of more humane conservation and rescue methods.

[Your comments here]

Recently, the World Conservation Union released a revised endangered species list, reclassifying the humpback whale from being "vulnerable" to being of "least concern." Although this is encouraging to the global efforts to save whales, we must work to keep this species unlisted. I urge you to direct your efforts to uncovering the causes of Colin's death as well as additional investigation to better understand and protect humpback whales.

Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,
[Your name here]

We signed the “Baby Humpback Dies: Call for More Investigation Into Reasons” petition

# 5,546:

4:44 pm PDT, Aug 21, Mary O'Connell, Florida

# 5,545:

10:16 am PDT, Aug 21, Judy Stufflebeam, Oregon

# 5,544:

7:47 am PDT, Aug 21, Nancy Marshall, Georgia

# 5,543:

6:55 pm PDT, Aug 20, Natalie Batovsky, Maryland

# 5,542:

5:10 pm PDT, Aug 20, Hillary Culver, Kentucky

# 5,541:

1:40 pm PDT, Aug 20, Amanda Scuder, New York

# 5,540:

1:12 pm PDT, Aug 20, Gudrun Dennis, Florida

# 5,539:

1:25 am PDT, Aug 20, Kunal Ashar, California

# 5,538:

11:14 am PDT, Aug 19, Victoria Lepore, New York

# 5,537:

8:05 am PDT, Aug 19, Agostina Giobio, Florida

# 5,536:

8:56 pm PDT, Aug 18, Kamal Prasad, California

# 5,535:

6:43 pm PDT, Aug 18, Melissa Dvorak, Massachusetts

# 5,534:

6:21 pm PDT, Aug 18, David Dvorak, Massachusetts

# 5,533:

12:50 pm PDT, Aug 18, Jennifer Rhoads, Illinois

# 5,532:

12:33 pm PDT, Aug 18, Kevin Piper, Pennsylvania

# 5,531:

10:53 pm PDT, Aug 17, Steven Reilly, Texas

# 5,530:

4:51 pm PDT, Aug 17, Pam Harper-Smith, Texas

# 5,529:

3:38 pm PDT, Aug 17, Sharon Gillespie, Texas

# 5,528:

2:48 pm PDT, Aug 17, Kathleen Kane, New Jersey

# 5,527:

11:22 am PDT, Aug 17, Harry Mauney, North Carolina

# 5,526:

11:06 am PDT, Aug 17, Elizabeth Belflower, Alabama

# 5,525:

9:21 pm PDT, Aug 16, E Smith, Connecticut

# 5,524:

8:15 pm PDT, Aug 16, Name not displayed, Ohio

# 5,523:

7:43 pm PDT, Aug 16, GLENN BROWN, Nebraska

# 5,522:

3:10 pm PDT, Aug 16, Audra Raulinaitis, Illinois

# 5,521:

2:11 pm PDT, Aug 16, Vicky Kontou, Germany

# 5,520:

12:39 pm PDT, Aug 16, Pat Brandenmaier, California
Why would you kill a baby whale?

# 5,519:

9:08 am PDT, Aug 16, Isak Sandberg, Sweden

# 5,518:

3:16 am PDT, Aug 16, Catherine Ignatowski, Pennsylvania

# 5,517:

8:37 am PDT, Aug 15, Stephen Hill, California

# 5,516:

1:23 am PDT, Aug 15, Jacob Green, Arkansas
God forbid animal cruelty, no matter if they're domesticated or not. The Word of God does not mention the treatment of animals to a great extent. However, from the creation account we get both what the Bible says about animals and how we must treat them. In Genesis 1 we find the creation of all things. It is here that we see God establishing the relationship between man and animal. In verse 28 God gives to man authority over all that was created on earth. Man is to take care of and use the earth. Man is to have the authority over all that was created. This means that man is to assume the control and protection of all that God had created. We must be careful in this role. Many are for protecting every animal no matter the cost both to mankind and to the animals. However, it is important to notice what God does after the sin of man. Genesis 3 gives to us the details of the first sin man commits. In verse 21 God prepares for mankind a covering out of skin, for the first time an animal dies. The implications from this flow throughout the Word of God; because of man's sin, death has entered the world. However, for our discussion on animals it is important to understand that the animals are to be used by men and women for our needs. In Genesis 9 there is a change between man and animal. Up to this point, animals were not used as food. However, God now includes certain animals in the diet of mankind. God also puts fear of man into the animals. Again animals are used to fill the needs of men and women. However, God continues His command in verse two to watch over these animals. Animal cruelty should not take place if men and women truly understand the command to be “caretakers” of the earth. We are to control the numbers of animals so disease and sickness do not kill them off; we are to use the animals for our needs; we are to control animals in a manner in which they are not harmful to humans; and finally we should protect them from over-killing and abuse. The problem lies in the fact that many do not understand this balance and tend to over-protect or under-protect animals. Animals were created for us to enjoy, so protecting a remnant for others to enjoy is also proper. Proverbs 12:10 tells us, "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."

# 5,515:

3:26 pm PDT, Aug 14, Julie Salvatore, Tennessee

# 5,514:

2:17 pm PDT, Aug 14, Bruce Bennett, Indiana

# 5,513:

12:55 pm PDT, Aug 14, Alice Diane Celebre, New Jersey

# 5,512:

7:12 am PDT, Aug 14, Meg Fullam, Georgia

# 5,511:

3:42 am PDT, Aug 14, Name not displayed, Canada
the sadness of this story has me at a loss for words but it would be of pertinent value to find out just what was going on with Colin.

# 5,510:

1:38 am PDT, Aug 14, Antonio Delgado Fenoy, Spain

# 5,509:

8:41 pm PDT, Aug 13, Shirlane Ferrante, Florida
I cannot believe the cruelty in treating this animal, baby, i such a way..He was following yachts trying to suckle them. How pathetic is this? It's amazing how we can capture and kill whales whenever there is a market, but we cannot save or rescue a baby? a baby that is injured and looking for his mom?? I am ashamed.

# 5,508:

6:22 pm PDT, Aug 13, Julie Moore, Washington

# 5,507:

4:08 am PDT, Aug 13, Suzane Klien, Nevada

# 5,506:

2:33 am PDT, Aug 13, Nicole Strathmann, Missouri

# 5,505:

2:03 am PDT, Aug 13, Sara Boissonnault, New Hampshire

# 5,504:

1:17 am PDT, Aug 13, Weronika Walerych, Poland

# 5,503:

9:35 pm PDT, Aug 12, Danielle Parenteau, California

# 5,501:

8:18 pm PDT, Aug 12, Mauro Rubina, California

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Baby Humpback Dies: Call for More Investigation Into Reasons

This petition has been closed.