All this occurred immediately after a day of Navy sonar exercises in the area. Although a similar mass stranding had occurred in Greece, this time a marine mammal researcher had fresh samples. Balcomb collected the whale heads and sent them to the Harvard Medical School for CT scans. Even more disturbing to him, he said, is that since that day he has not seen any of the 35 photo-identified Cuvier's beaked whales he has studied for a decade. The Navy killed them.
Emotions always run high on the subject of whales, perhaps the most beloved ocean creatures.
Today, scientists and celebrities will rally to save the animals. Actor Pierce Brosnan will join activists and a video presentation of Jean-Michel Cousteau to kick off a day of events that will culminate in the public hearing at the Renaissance Hotel near Los Angeles International Airport at 6 p.m.