DEATH IN THE OCEAN

Last week, as the country was distracted by political drama, a tragedy occurred in the natural world. Over 650 pilot whales were stranded on a beach in New Zealand and the majority of them died. No one knows why it happened but theories include pollution, environmental toxins or the sonar used by naval ships.  Some think it might have been sharks or changes in food sources or the tricky geography of the narrow beach. Scientists are testing and studying all the possibilities.
We are completely dependent on water. Who is watching out for our rivers, lakes and oceans? This question will become ever more critical as time goes on. Here's my little mixed media sketch of a humpback whale. This huge mammal (65,000 lbs) has been on and off the endangered species list.