THE ENDANGERED HOUR TALK SHOW
Hosted By: ETHAN SCOFIELD
Episode 204- featuring Megan the Humpback Whale
OFFICIAL ONLINE TRANSCRIPT
*Endangered Hour is filmed before a live studio audience*
ANNOUNCER:
From sunny San Luis Obispo, it's the Endangered Hour, where the species most in need of help speak their mind and share their stories! Tonight, Megan the Humpback Whale, from Cape Cod, introduces us to the plight of her family and her species, explaining their dark past, their dangerous present, and their possibly bright future. And of course, to guide this dramatic and moving story, the evening's master of ceremonies, the one and only, your host: Ethan Scofield!
ETHAN:
Thank you! Thank you! Good evening! Ladies and gentlemen, we've got a great show lined up for you tonight! The beautiful Megaptera "Megan" Novaeangliae joins us to share anecdotes of her endangerment. It's quite a testimony to the difficulty she and all other Humpback Whales have experienced. And so, without further ado, please put your hands, flippers, and paws together for Ms. Novaeangliae!
MEGAN:
Oh you're all so kind! What a wonderful audience! Hello Ethan, I'm such a big fan of the show! It's a pleasure to be here.
ETHAN:
And it's a pleasure to have you Megan! And, may I say, you look stunning tonight! I know long flippers and variable dorsal fins are how humpback whales are distinguished from other whales in the same family, but yours look particularly distinguished this evening, if you catch my drift. And I love what you've done with your flukes!
MEGAN:
Oh, Ethan, you're such a charmer. Thank you!
ETHAN:
Oh course. But please, you have to tell me, is it true what they say about humpback whale song? Do you really have the longest most complex vocalizations out there? Would you be willing to sing something for us?
MEGAN:
Oh, well those are usually saved for courtship. I'm not as big a flirt as you are Ethan, I wouldn't want to give people the wrong idea. Plus, they can last up to 30 minutes, I don't think we'd have time.
ETHAN:
Fair enough, either way it's wonderful to have you on the show! To begin, why don't you tell us a little about yourself. You're from Cape Cod, off the shore of good old Massachusetts, why not tell us what's that's like.
MEGAN:
Well Ethan, I love traveling, my friends and family all do it! Humpback whales can be found all over the planet, we're really great explorers. That said, the group I usually hang out with (we call ourselves a feeding aggregation) has spent generations traveling along the coastal shelf of the Eastern United States. That's the way it usually works, with large packs migrating back and forth between traditional feeding and mating areas with the changing of the seasons. A feeding aggregation generally migrates towards the equator during the winter when the water gets cold, to join up in a giant party of other feeding aggregations (called a stock) during the summer.
ETHAN:
I can always appreciate a good summer getaway! And apparently you can to; I've heard that you often swim upwards of 4,500 kilometers to get to a good vacation spot! That's dedication!
MEGAN:
Well there's more to it than just the warm water. Meeting in large stocks allows us to breed with a more varied population, which keeps our genetic diversity up.
ETHAN:
And where does your stock usually meet?
MEGAN:
The Caribbean, usually near Bermuda. It's actually a historically important area for my species. Since as early as 1611, commercial whaling in this area has threatened our kind.
ETHAN:
Ah, yes, I wondered when we'd get to this. Commercial whaling, the that archaic threat. For centuries, humans have hunted whales for subsidence as well as for consumptive procurement of natural whale oils to use in lamps, automobiles, and other products.
MEGAN:
Whaling devastated my species. Before 1600, it is postulated that there were up to 125,000 humpback whales on the planet. In 1990, when things looked bleakest for us, a mere 10% of that amount, about 10-12,000 whales, remained. My own father was one of the 9,125 whales killed along just the East Coast of the US between 1850 and 1971.
ETHAN:
I'm so sorry.
MEGAN:
Things were even worse in the southern oceans of the world, where only 3% of their 100,000 whale population remained in 1986. And the North Pacific saw 28,000 kills over the 20th century, dropping the population there to a mere 1,000.
ETHAN:
Terrible, just terrible. Thank God for the 1966 prohibition of humpback whaling by the International Whaling Commission, and their subsequent complete whaling moratorium in 1982.
MEGAN:
Yes, but even with those in effect, by 1991, things were still looking very discouraging for humpback whales. In November that year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration labeled us as endangered and released our Recovery Plan.
ETHAN:
I imagine it must have been a huge relief to see that report published, to see in writing all the troubles your species was facing and a proceeding list of solutions. It was set out clearly, the NOAA planned to:
1) Maintain and Examine your habitat
2) Identify and Reduce human caused mortality, harm, and disturbance
3) Measure and Monitor key population parameters to be sure the plan was successful
4) Improve administration and coordination of Recovery
MEGAN:
It was incredibly reassuring to read, yes.
ETHAN:
It has been over 20 years since that plan came out. Was it successful? Do you feel that the NOAA has addressed the 6 major threats it acknowledged in the report?
MEGAN:
The modern world is a much safer one for humpback whales. The first threat, whaling, while not completely discontinued, is significantly decreased and managed. That said, other threats were not so easily stopped. The new top threat is incidental entrapment and entanglement, which effects 26-68 whales per year and killed 93 between 1979 and 1989. Much less lethal, collisions with ships harm and disorient humpbacks. Increasingly, major shipping lanes cross right through important feeding grounds, causing an upward trend in hazard. Ships also cause acoustic disturbances, as do planes, commercial whale watching boats, and research vessels. Acoustic disturbances cause confusion, disrupting migration and invading important feeding and breeding areas.
ETHAN:
Not to mention, humans also compete with humpbacks for food and real estate. You were telling me how your prey is not only fished into rarity, but also killed off by the pollution of coastal developments and off shore oil drilling.
MEGAN:
Exactly! As I was saying, the world is still a dangerous place for whales. But the plan was never to make the oceans into a whale paradise, only to help them survive in a world where humans and whales can coexist. And, considering the horrific conditions of 100— even 50— years ago, things are much much better today.
ETHAN:
So much better in fact, that the NOAA has divided the humpbacks endangered status between 15 new "distinct population segments" or DPS. Only one of these DPSs, that in the Arabian Sea, remains at a high risk for extinction, and two others are at moderate risk. The others have been declared "not at risk of extinction." This is a huge victory for the humpback species!
MEGAN:
It really is! Things are so much better that the The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has removed us from their Red List in 2008. Today, 80,000 humpbacks reside worldwide.
ETHAN:
That's wonderful! It's not often you hear success stories on this show, so we're very glad to have yours Megan. Thank you so much for coming in, and congratulations to you and all other humpbacks out there!
MEGAN:Thank you so much Ethan.
ETHAN:
Resources:
https://iwc.int/home
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/whales/humpback-whale.html
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/Status%20Reviews/humpback_whale_sr_2015.pdf
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/13006/0
http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/whale_humpback.pdf
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html
*Endangered Hour is filmed before a live studio audience*
ANNOUNCER:
From sunny San Luis Obispo, it's the Endangered Hour, where the species most in need of help speak their mind and share their stories! Tonight, Megan the Humpback Whale, from Cape Cod, introduces us to the plight of her family and her species, explaining their dark past, their dangerous present, and their possibly bright future. And of course, to guide this dramatic and moving story, the evening's master of ceremonies, the one and only, your host: Ethan Scofield!
ETHAN:
Thank you! Thank you! Good evening! Ladies and gentlemen, we've got a great show lined up for you tonight! The beautiful Megaptera "Megan" Novaeangliae joins us to share anecdotes of her endangerment. It's quite a testimony to the difficulty she and all other Humpback Whales have experienced. And so, without further ado, please put your hands, flippers, and paws together for Ms. Novaeangliae!
MEGAN:
Oh you're all so kind! What a wonderful audience! Hello Ethan, I'm such a big fan of the show! It's a pleasure to be here.
ETHAN:
And it's a pleasure to have you Megan! And, may I say, you look stunning tonight! I know long flippers and variable dorsal fins are how humpback whales are distinguished from other whales in the same family, but yours look particularly distinguished this evening, if you catch my drift. And I love what you've done with your flukes!
MEGAN:
Oh, Ethan, you're such a charmer. Thank you!
ETHAN:
Oh course. But please, you have to tell me, is it true what they say about humpback whale song? Do you really have the longest most complex vocalizations out there? Would you be willing to sing something for us?
MEGAN:
Oh, well those are usually saved for courtship. I'm not as big a flirt as you are Ethan, I wouldn't want to give people the wrong idea. Plus, they can last up to 30 minutes, I don't think we'd have time.
ETHAN:
Fair enough, either way it's wonderful to have you on the show! To begin, why don't you tell us a little about yourself. You're from Cape Cod, off the shore of good old Massachusetts, why not tell us what's that's like.
MEGAN:
Well Ethan, I love traveling, my friends and family all do it! Humpback whales can be found all over the planet, we're really great explorers. That said, the group I usually hang out with (we call ourselves a feeding aggregation) has spent generations traveling along the coastal shelf of the Eastern United States. That's the way it usually works, with large packs migrating back and forth between traditional feeding and mating areas with the changing of the seasons. A feeding aggregation generally migrates towards the equator during the winter when the water gets cold, to join up in a giant party of other feeding aggregations (called a stock) during the summer.
ETHAN:
I can always appreciate a good summer getaway! And apparently you can to; I've heard that you often swim upwards of 4,500 kilometers to get to a good vacation spot! That's dedication!
MEGAN:
Well there's more to it than just the warm water. Meeting in large stocks allows us to breed with a more varied population, which keeps our genetic diversity up.
ETHAN:
And where does your stock usually meet?
MEGAN:
The Caribbean, usually near Bermuda. It's actually a historically important area for my species. Since as early as 1611, commercial whaling in this area has threatened our kind.
ETHAN:
Ah, yes, I wondered when we'd get to this. Commercial whaling, the that archaic threat. For centuries, humans have hunted whales for subsidence as well as for consumptive procurement of natural whale oils to use in lamps, automobiles, and other products.
MEGAN:
Whaling devastated my species. Before 1600, it is postulated that there were up to 125,000 humpback whales on the planet. In 1990, when things looked bleakest for us, a mere 10% of that amount, about 10-12,000 whales, remained. My own father was one of the 9,125 whales killed along just the East Coast of the US between 1850 and 1971.
ETHAN:
I'm so sorry.
MEGAN:
Things were even worse in the southern oceans of the world, where only 3% of their 100,000 whale population remained in 1986. And the North Pacific saw 28,000 kills over the 20th century, dropping the population there to a mere 1,000.
ETHAN:
Terrible, just terrible. Thank God for the 1966 prohibition of humpback whaling by the International Whaling Commission, and their subsequent complete whaling moratorium in 1982.
MEGAN:
Yes, but even with those in effect, by 1991, things were still looking very discouraging for humpback whales. In November that year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration labeled us as endangered and released our Recovery Plan.
ETHAN:
I imagine it must have been a huge relief to see that report published, to see in writing all the troubles your species was facing and a proceeding list of solutions. It was set out clearly, the NOAA planned to:
1) Maintain and Examine your habitat
2) Identify and Reduce human caused mortality, harm, and disturbance
3) Measure and Monitor key population parameters to be sure the plan was successful
4) Improve administration and coordination of Recovery
MEGAN:
It was incredibly reassuring to read, yes.
ETHAN:
It has been over 20 years since that plan came out. Was it successful? Do you feel that the NOAA has addressed the 6 major threats it acknowledged in the report?
MEGAN:
The modern world is a much safer one for humpback whales. The first threat, whaling, while not completely discontinued, is significantly decreased and managed. That said, other threats were not so easily stopped. The new top threat is incidental entrapment and entanglement, which effects 26-68 whales per year and killed 93 between 1979 and 1989. Much less lethal, collisions with ships harm and disorient humpbacks. Increasingly, major shipping lanes cross right through important feeding grounds, causing an upward trend in hazard. Ships also cause acoustic disturbances, as do planes, commercial whale watching boats, and research vessels. Acoustic disturbances cause confusion, disrupting migration and invading important feeding and breeding areas.
ETHAN:
Not to mention, humans also compete with humpbacks for food and real estate. You were telling me how your prey is not only fished into rarity, but also killed off by the pollution of coastal developments and off shore oil drilling.
MEGAN:
Exactly! As I was saying, the world is still a dangerous place for whales. But the plan was never to make the oceans into a whale paradise, only to help them survive in a world where humans and whales can coexist. And, considering the horrific conditions of 100— even 50— years ago, things are much much better today.
ETHAN:
So much better in fact, that the NOAA has divided the humpbacks endangered status between 15 new "distinct population segments" or DPS. Only one of these DPSs, that in the Arabian Sea, remains at a high risk for extinction, and two others are at moderate risk. The others have been declared "not at risk of extinction." This is a huge victory for the humpback species!
MEGAN:
It really is! Things are so much better that the The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has removed us from their Red List in 2008. Today, 80,000 humpbacks reside worldwide.
ETHAN:
That's wonderful! It's not often you hear success stories on this show, so we're very glad to have yours Megan. Thank you so much for coming in, and congratulations to you and all other humpbacks out there!
MEGAN:Thank you so much Ethan.
ETHAN:
Now don't change that channel! Up next, Megan will tell us more about migration and answer questions from our audience. After that, another special guest, Edmund the African Elephant, shares a harrowing story about summer in the Serengeti. All this, and much more up next on Endangered Hour, after these messages from our sponsors!
ANNOUNCER:
As always, Endangered Hour is brought to you by organizations that care. By supporting these causes you support our guests and their entire species. Please, visit the following websites to find ways you can help:
We, along with our sponsors, wish to remind you that while the Humpback Whale might have successfully escaped endangerment, there are many species which have yet to be so fortunate. Many whale species alone, such as Blue Whales and Orcas, are still listed as endangered by the ESA, and need your help!
Pictures From the Episode:
ANNOUNCER:
As always, Endangered Hour is brought to you by organizations that care. By supporting these causes you support our guests and their entire species. Please, visit the following websites to find ways you can help:
 |
The Wildlife Conservation Society |
 |
| The World Wildlife Fund |
 |
The Whaleman Foundation |
Pictures From the Episode:
 |
| Megan, the Humpback Whale |
 |
| Ethan and Megan Start the Show |
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| Modern Humpback DPSs |
Resources:
https://iwc.int/home
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/whales/humpback-whale.html
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/Status%20Reviews/humpback_whale_sr_2015.pdf
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/13006/0
http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/whale_humpback.pdf
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html
I really enjoyed your idea of a talk show to present your information. I found it very effective to follow,and was quite entertained. #BIO227Fall2015
ReplyDeleteThe talk show approach with you as the host was very entertaining to read. I gained a lot of information on the humpback whale, and I hope that they can be fully recovered! #BIO227Fall2015
ReplyDelete