Page 14 - Jupiter West - September '21

Page 14, Jupiter West
Book Review

Fathoms: The World In The legs evolved into dorsal fins, and their with a whale. She opens her book

Whale nostrils moved higher onto the top of with the following description,
which I am abbreviating here by
their heads to become the blowholes
that are more convenient for breathing substituting ellipses (...) for text that
By Nils A. Shapiro as they surface from underwater. I am eliminating for lack of space:
This move from land to water “A few years ago, I helped push
The problem enabled whales to survive the eventual a beached humpback whale out into
with this brilliant book catastrophic mass extinction that the sea, only to witness it return
is ... me. killed off the dinosaurs and all other and expire under its own weight on
life on earth, blotting out the sun for the shoreline. For the three days
I had originally planned an extraordinary length of time, when that it died, the whale was a public
for Fathoms to be the a giant asteroid collided with our attraction. Locals brought their
subject of my book review planet millions of years ago. children down to see it. Then out-
column in the May issue Whales are highly intelligent. of-towners came too. People would
five months ago. I began They communicate with one another stand in the surf and wave babies in
reading it in late March over vast stretches of ocean in what pastel rompers over the whale, as if to
with great anticipation, its subject matter very much in scientists refer to as “songs.” As the catch the drift of an evaporating myth.
line with my limitless curiosity for information about author relates, using data recorded The whale was black like piano wood
the creatures with whom we share this world – and this around 1970 in preparation for the and, because it was still young, it was
widely praised volume is devoted to the largest ever to congressional Marine Mammal pink in the joints under its fins. Waves
exist on our planet. Protection Act: burst behind it, sending spray over its back. Every few
Yet I have only now turned the last page of Fathoms, “Songs sung by humpbacks off Puerto Rico, for minutes, the whale slammed its flukes against the sand
having set it aside for weeks at a time while, during instance, would be heard by whales in waters near and exhaled loudly—a tantrum or leverage. Its soft chest
these several interim months I have read and reviewed Newfoundland some 1,615 miles away: the equivalent turned slack, concertinaed by the pull of the swell...
four other books for this column. That is a very unusual to a shout on the streets of Moscow being made out, “‘Under its skin the whale is wrapped in a subcutaneous
situation, for I have always focused on starting and whisper-quiet, by people in London (though sound waves envelope of fat called blubber,’ a man in khaki said,
finishing one book at a time. travel farther and faster aquatically )... The clinks made cupping his hands.
I have asked myself time and again, why such has been by sperm whales last bare microseconds, but they proved “Trying to imagine the properties of blubber, I
the case. The author, Rebecca Giggs, an award-winning to be among the loudest single-source noises on Earth. could only conjure the agar desserts sold in Korean
writer from Australia, has certainly filled her pages The 1967 launch of Saturn V, the heaviest space rocket supermarkets: opaque, calorie-rich, and possessed of a
with an encyclopedic wealth of facts about everything ever fired, was quieter by comparison.” curiously unimpressionable tactility. While in the ocean,
one could possibly want to know about whales: their For creatures so large, whales are virtually harmless the whale’s blubber insulates it and allows the animal to
millions of years of evolution; physical characteristics; to humans; their diets consist mainly of squid and krill. maintain a constant inner temperature. Out of the ocean,
relationships to humans and other creatures; wide variety But, sadly, the worst predators of whales – their greatest the blubber smothers it.
of species; feeding, migration and other lifestyle habits. dangers – are humans. From the harpoon-decked sailing “‘This whale has the opposite problem to hypothermia,’
Much of what she presents is surprising. Just as one ships of past centuries to modern, giant nets on sleek the wildlife officer explained. Though we were shivering,
example: Whales are more closely related to humans than fishing boats, men have slaughtered millions of these the whale, only yards away, was boiling alive in the kettle
to fish: They breathe air, as we do, and must surface at creatures throughout all of the world’s oceans. And now of itself.”
intervals to breathe through the blowholes at the top of the choking flood of plastic and other man-made pollution Here, then, is a key to the problem I have with this
their heads or they will drown. There is scientific evidence is fouling the seas, and is being found in the bodies of otherwise fascinating, and very impressive, book. As rich
indicating that whales’ ancestors millions of years ago whales increasingly being beached, helplessly, on shores. as it is in its presentation of the life of whales, it cannot
walked the earth on short, stubby legs, then at one point It is a horror story difficult to read.
slowly began to enter a life in the water. Over time, their It was, in fact, the author’s first personal experience Book Review on page 15
Pet Matters

by Pat Deshong, President of Furry Friends Due to his condition, Charlie would no longer be able to Featured Adoptables
Adoption, Clinic & Ranch, August 2021 perform what was needed of him as a service dog, so he was
forced into early retirement. Since the owner was in need of Boo Boo
“For the Love of Animals” a fully capable service dog, we decided to take in Charlie and Baby Boo Boo came to
features real stories happening get him the help he deserved. Furry Friends after her owner
at Furry Friends in Jupiter. We We were able to get a generous donor to sponsor Charlie’s passed away suddenly. She
are The Humane Society of hip replacement. Charlie was an excellent patient and responded is very sweet and has been
Greater Jupiter/Tequesta and the well to the surgery. He was well taken care of by one of our in a home her entire life,14
only no-kill shelter open to the employees as their foster dog while he recovered from surgery. years! Boo Boo is shy and
public in northern Palm Beach In an attempt to get Charlie a fulltime forever home, we took reserved but very loving.
County. We’ve been rescuing, to social media with a video plea for adopters. She loves this specific pillow
rehabilitating, and re-homing It worked! A veteran, with a family of her own, saw Charlie as well as a good nook to
the homeless animals in our on facebook and knew in her heart that she was the person for hide. Boo Boo would make
community for more than 30 Charlie. You see, they had met Charlie once before at our facility a fantastic companion to
years. Our not for profit 501c3 years ago, and once they saw his video, immediately contacted anyone looking to add a
organization consists of our us. Only one problem, the family lives in the Northeast! feline friend to their lives!
Jupiter based Adoption Center, Again, thanks to our amazing supporters, we were able to Come visit her at our Ranch
Veterinary Clinic (open to the have Charlie transported to the Northeast where he will live a in Palm City!
public), Thrift Boutique, and life of full time companionship. Although it will take quite a
Palm City Ranch. bit more time for Charlie to fully recover, he can swim in the Waylon
lake, walk in the brisk Northern air and spend lazy days cuddled My name is Waylon and
up on the couch with his new family. I am 3 years old. I am a
Charlie, a friendly 5 ½-year-old Belgian Malinois mix was very fun and active fellow.
once heavily depended on as a service dog to a war veteran. I LOVE to go for walks
The veteran, concerned that Charlie looked to be in pain, took and will make an excellent
him in to Furry Friends to have him checked out. Our team of walking partner; 10,000
Veterinarians diagnosed him with hip dysplasia, and would steps is easy breezy for me!
unfortunately need a total right hip replacement. I am best suited for a home
with older children as I have
loads of energy and I can be
shy at first introduction. My
friends say I would make
an excellent boating dog as
well. I am crate and house trained and I would love an active
human of my own to go on adventures with and of course
watch some Netflix. Ideally I prefer a human who works from
home - isn’t that the norm these days?

Charlie, enjoying his new home up North.

The new owners, both Marines, are certain that everything
happens when it is supposed to happen. To them it is no
coincidence that Charlie arrived to them shortly after the
incidents in Kabul. Once again, Charlie will be there to comfort
two more American Heros.
Blessings to you for your support and faith in us… all for
the LOVE of animals!

Patricia Deshong, President
Service dog Charlie, before hip dysplasia diagnosis. Paid Advertisement