by Maria Lisa Polegatto May 19, 2026
Living on the east coast of Canada, it's natural to be curiously in love with the ocean. Looking out across the waves, can be rejuvenating. The water has always been a big part of my life from child to adult. It helps me with resilience.
As a young teenager I paddled the river everyday, even in the evenings and night during moonlight, especially when the water was as calm as a sheet of glass. The loons would let me know when the rain was coming. If you watch the direction of the waves you can tell the upcoming weather. We spent so much time at the water, we could tell time by the position of the sun in the sky.
If you are lucky and in just the right spot, you can see a whale fin or fluke if even only for a few seconds. Whales are majestic creatures and while they live in the ocean, they are mammals that breathe the same air we do. We have much in common with whales.
Unfortunately, some of the practices humans have can lead to perils for ocean wildlife, including whales. Ships travel globally and at speeds to meet their deadlines that can strike whales causing injury and/or death. Such majestic creatures and so precious at the same time.
If you have never heard or seen of Blade Runner whale before -do a google search for him - he's a magnificent whale and very lucky to have lived through a trauma that would have killed many whales. The propeller cuts are still visible in his flesh. A human would not have survived that ordeal. Yet Blade Runner did. Timmy, unfortunately did not survive her trauma despite attempts to save her.
Timmy became globally known for being rescued this year from an entanglement and then during her struggles, suffering and stranding. Unfortunately Timmy was found deceased after being rescued and refloated. Her story is unique and already people are looking for someone to blame. Blame for trying to save her and blame for not letting nature take care of her instead.
I don’t agree with blaming and I don't agree we should not have compassion for others, including wildlife. For it is wildlife that is responsible for keeping ecosystems healthy with their movements, contributions and existence.
Was Timmy worth saving?
Absolutely. 100%. Whales are worth far more than most people realize — not only emotionally, spiritually, or environmentally, but economically as well. A single whale contributes an estimated value of over a million dollars to our ecosystem throughout its lifetime through the role it plays in ocean health and carbon cycling. Whales represent something deeper. Nature itself is magical, purposeful, meaningful, and interconnected in ways we are still trying to understand.
Instead of focusing on blame, I prefer to look at every incident as a learning opportunity.
So what can we learn from Timmy?
We can learn that acting quickly is vital. Training matters. Knowledge matters. Understanding how wildlife reacts under stress matters. Knowing how to approach, interact with, and rescue animals safely is vital for humans and wildlife alike.
Imagine being entangled, panicked, exhausted, unable to move freely, and then suddenly being approached by several humans without understanding their intent. Fear and survival instincts take over.
The truth is, humans have polluted the earth in ways that are devastating, even when unintentional. Much of that pollution stays hidden beneath the surface until emergencies like Timmy’s bring it into view. Entanglements, marine debris, ship traffic, fishing gear — these are all realities whales face every single day.
We need to learn how to mitigate the effects and removal of pollution for all life on earth.
How did Timmy die?
I honestly don’t know.
I’ve asked the question, but don’t have the answer. Entanglement could have been a factor. A ship strike after becoming free is also possible. Those types of injuries can leave visible signs such as scars, blunt-force trauma, or propeller marks if decomposition has not advanced too far. But I am not an expert, and I don’t pretend to be.
What I am is passionate about wildlife, including whales.
I respect them deeply for the role they play in our ecosystem and for the reminder they give us that everything in nature is connected.
So how do we proceed from here?
We care more.
We learn more.
We innovate more.
We clean up more.
Litter that is dropped on land eventually finds its way into rivers and oceans. Every piece matters. As individuals, we can help by picking up litter when we see it, disposing of waste properly, and leaving nothing behind when we spend time in nature.
Nature is resilient, but it is under enormous pressure from human overuse of nearly every environment on this planet.
At the same time, we also have to recognize that humans rely on the ocean too. We fish to eat. We transport products globally. But whales also travel globally. They need the freedom to swim safely, surface to breathe, and protect their young all while navigating the ocean of hazards we have created.
If you want to help, get involved. Support or volunteer with wildlife and conservation organizations such as Marine Animals Response Society - MARS, Canadian Sea Turtle Network - CSTN, iNaturalist where everyday people can contribute valuable observations that support science and conservation.
Every action matters.
Every lesson matters.
Every whale matters.
For more information about my whale project and ocean education work, visit Deep Dive Into the Ocean Ecosystem With the Giants.
If you are lucky and in just the right spot, you can see a whale fin or fluke if even only for a few seconds. Whales are majestic creatures and while they live in the ocean, they are mammals that breathe the same air we do. We have much in common with whales.
Unfortunately, some of the practices humans have can lead to perils for ocean wildlife, including whales. Ships travel globally and at speeds to meet their deadlines that can strike whales causing injury and/or death. Such majestic creatures and so precious at the same time.
If you have never heard or seen of Blade Runner whale before -do a google search for him - he's a magnificent whale and very lucky to have lived through a trauma that would have killed many whales. The propeller cuts are still visible in his flesh. A human would not have survived that ordeal. Yet Blade Runner did. Timmy, unfortunately did not survive her trauma despite attempts to save her.
Timmy became globally known for being rescued this year from an entanglement and then during her struggles, suffering and stranding. Unfortunately Timmy was found deceased after being rescued and refloated. Her story is unique and already people are looking for someone to blame. Blame for trying to save her and blame for not letting nature take care of her instead.
I don’t agree with blaming and I don't agree we should not have compassion for others, including wildlife. For it is wildlife that is responsible for keeping ecosystems healthy with their movements, contributions and existence.
Was Timmy worth saving?
Absolutely. 100%. Whales are worth far more than most people realize — not only emotionally, spiritually, or environmentally, but economically as well. A single whale contributes an estimated value of over a million dollars to our ecosystem throughout its lifetime through the role it plays in ocean health and carbon cycling. Whales represent something deeper. Nature itself is magical, purposeful, meaningful, and interconnected in ways we are still trying to understand.
Instead of focusing on blame, I prefer to look at every incident as a learning opportunity.
So what can we learn from Timmy?
We can learn that acting quickly is vital. Training matters. Knowledge matters. Understanding how wildlife reacts under stress matters. Knowing how to approach, interact with, and rescue animals safely is vital for humans and wildlife alike.
Imagine being entangled, panicked, exhausted, unable to move freely, and then suddenly being approached by several humans without understanding their intent. Fear and survival instincts take over.
The truth is, humans have polluted the earth in ways that are devastating, even when unintentional. Much of that pollution stays hidden beneath the surface until emergencies like Timmy’s bring it into view. Entanglements, marine debris, ship traffic, fishing gear — these are all realities whales face every single day.
We need to learn how to mitigate the effects and removal of pollution for all life on earth.
How did Timmy die?
I honestly don’t know.
I’ve asked the question, but don’t have the answer. Entanglement could have been a factor. A ship strike after becoming free is also possible. Those types of injuries can leave visible signs such as scars, blunt-force trauma, or propeller marks if decomposition has not advanced too far. But I am not an expert, and I don’t pretend to be.
What I am is passionate about wildlife, including whales.
I respect them deeply for the role they play in our ecosystem and for the reminder they give us that everything in nature is connected.
So how do we proceed from here?
We care more.
We learn more.
We innovate more.
We clean up more.
Litter that is dropped on land eventually finds its way into rivers and oceans. Every piece matters. As individuals, we can help by picking up litter when we see it, disposing of waste properly, and leaving nothing behind when we spend time in nature.
Nature is resilient, but it is under enormous pressure from human overuse of nearly every environment on this planet.
At the same time, we also have to recognize that humans rely on the ocean too. We fish to eat. We transport products globally. But whales also travel globally. They need the freedom to swim safely, surface to breathe, and protect their young all while navigating the ocean of hazards we have created.
If you want to help, get involved. Support or volunteer with wildlife and conservation organizations such as Marine Animals Response Society - MARS, Canadian Sea Turtle Network - CSTN, iNaturalist where everyday people can contribute valuable observations that support science and conservation.
Every action matters.
Every lesson matters.
Every whale matters.
For more information about my whale project and ocean education work, visit Deep Dive Into the Ocean Ecosystem With the Giants.
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