But as I watched the boats crowd close in and real harpoons being hurled into the exposed backs of real whales, for the first time I thought if whales are as smart as we like to think they are, why haven’t they been avoiding their hunters for the last several centuries?

Another disturbing thought followed. Scientists have puzzled for a long time over why numbers of whales will inexplicably beach themselves. Some have suggested mass suicide as a form of self imposed population control.

Is that what happens in the hunts?

whale came up with the idea to have the entire pod

commit suicide and then having to convince all the

members of the pod to follow suit seems cultishly far-

fetched.

•••

I’m not suggesting one whale taking on this role. Dispute what I say if you are so inclined, but dispute what I ACTUALLY say.