New Zealand Eco-warriors have again demonstrated how their collective righteousness transcends Nature.
After rescuing a lone orca whale from the ocean near Wellington, they lovingly relocated the calf in the ocean near Plimmerton.
More Eco-warriors then scoured the ocean from above and below, on the lookout for the orphan whale’s parents which, ideally, would have been flaunting some sort of distinguishing features to set them apart from the other periodically surfacing orca whales in the ocean.
Toa – reportedly Maori for ‘Warrior’, although I thought that was ‘Wiremu’…? – as the Eco-warriors promptly named the orca, being unweaned thus not a strong feeder, sadly, days after being rescued, died.
New Zealand’s almighty band of Eco-warriors, therefore, implementing their Holier than Thou initiative, removed this baby orca whale from the ocean, the environment where ocean-going creatures live and die, and buried it amid the land, where people live and die.
As compassionate beings, the estimated $10,000 spent in a futile attempt to take care of an orphan whale shouldn’t concern us, nor should the expense of countless hours of boats cruising the waters or aircraft traversing the skies – an operation so presumably costly that no one has even dared estimate that expense – yet, what assuredly should concern us, is our New Zealand Ecologists’ arrogance.
This frightful lack of respect for an intelligent marine species which, likely due to their inability to communicate with us to point out the folly in our ways, we as people have no issue impressing upon them our terrestrial culture, along with the inane burial ritual that we hold so dear.
Whales are born, they live, then die in the ocean; how do our arrogant Eco-warriors consider that Toa the dead orca whale, was best suited to a land–based burial?
As people we like to ensure our loved ones are laid to rest in the vicinity of family – after a lifetime taking from the earth most of us like to be buried in treated timber boxes so we will not return to the earth for years to come – but Toa the dead whale’s family live in the ocean.
Whales, like all marine mammals, are supposed to die in the water; their bodies should return to the sea.
Do we think our few days of Eco-intervention warrant laying to rest this creature outside its natural habitat?
What must his pod be thinking; what would Toa’s parents say?
Arrogance.
Article by Tim Walker
Edited by Displays T Wail
Photography by Hugh Mann/Hugh Briss