Conserving our precious natural resources
In times for the need of conserving the growth of trees, I have tried to ask some merchants to put up a polite sign asking consumers to bring back the bags. For example, when I buy some rolls I bring back the bag. I do this to conserve, of not needing to cut down trees uselessly. I have asked the clerks to tell the message to the owner. I cannot see how placing a polite sign can be offensive to anyone simply as a friendly reminder. I see this as an effort that we all benefit from reducing the sheer waste that costs us nothing to do the same way that we carry our wallets or keys.
I feel that the La Jolla Village News is bound to be on the forefront of supporting merchants who will be glad to go along with such an important conservation process.
Frieda L. Levinsky, La Jolla

Sonar gives whales the bends
Let’s hope the lawsuit recently filed in California over the Navy’s sonar tests convinces the Navy to take animals’ welfare into consideration (AP story).
Mounting evidence links sonar tests to many whale strandings around the world. Recently, a 15-foot beaked whale beached herself and was reportedly found dead with bleeding around both ears, likely a result of Navy sonar testing done off the coast of North Carolina. In January 2005, 37 whales beached themselves and died on the Outer Banks following a similar Navy sonar exercise.
A study published in the journal Nature in 2003 suggested that high-powered sonar from Navy ships appears to give whales and other marine mammals a version of the bends, causing them to develop dangerous gas bubbles in some tissues and blood vessels as well as beach themselves and die. Researchers found a condition similar to decompression sickness in 10 of 14 dead beached whales who were stranded in the Canary Islands soon after an international Navy exercise in 2002.
We’ve put people on the moon ” certainly, we can develop a sonar system that doesn’t harm innocent animals. To learn more, visit www.HelpingWildlife.com.

Stephanie Boyles, M.S., Wildlife Biologist
Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Norfolk, VA

Domestic pinniped park in La Jolla
A marine mammal research blog has compiled a list of what are called domestic pinniped parks. These are public areas in communities such as public beaches and docks where wild pinnipeds have lost their fear of humans and are now cohabitating these public areas with people. Such locations are found on the coast of California in San Francisco, Monterey and Newport Beach. La Jolla is also on this list with the Children’s Pool given as the location.
Most of the pinnipeds involved with these domestic pinniped parks are California sea lions. In the case of the Children’s Pool, the domestic pinnipeds are harbor seals. The conclusion here is that communities are using these domestic pinniped parks to encourage tourism at the expense of wildlife. Pinniped park animals are no longer wild, primarily staying at these public areas. These pinniped parks do not represent true wild populations and are on the level of zoo or ocean theme park attractions.
Kent Trego, La Jolla