"BAIT BALL" are the words Karla de la Peña (Boca Divers) called out as we approached white terns and brown pelicans circling and plunging into the water. We were on our almost-weekly Sunday panga excursion, hoping to see as many humpback whales as we had seen the week before. Peering over the side of the now idling boat, we saw an enormous "ball" of thousands of swirling. silvery sardines close to the surface. The seabirds presumably returned after we left and ate them all.
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"BAIT BALL" una bola de miles de sardines en la bahía |
An hour-and-a-half later, we were heading northwest towards the distant spouting of two whales. At a respectful distance of at least 60 meters, our engine was idled, which was what another nearby panga was doing. An adult whale, perhaps a male trying a attract a nearby female, was performing multiple, acrobatic breaches, making enormous splashes as it re-entered the water.
When not breaching, the very athletic whale engaged in dorsal fin slapping, which sounds like spectacularly amplified belly flops of humans. As the two pangas were quietly watching this thrilling scene, a tour company´s Zodiac boat sped aggressively towards the whales, only stopping 20 meters, when it was 20 meters, maximum, from the cetaceans.
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Whale photos - Marlee Brewster Brockmann - fellow passenger |
Sixty meters distance is required by law. As the orange, life jacket-wearing passengers chanted, "Whale, whale, show your tail," the humpbacks submerged and the Zodiac sped away. We waited. Minutes later, the two whales emerged. More dramatic breaching and fin slapping for almost thirty minutes. One whale was still performing as we motored back towards Boca, passing a pod of dolphins. They looked very small after having seen the humpbacks.
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DELFINES foto: karla de la Peña |
Maximum time allowed in the proximity of whales during whale watching season is 30 minutes. The season officially ends on March 23rd. After that date, no lingering by whales is allowed.
On land - different scenes: Walking west on the isla Cuale, a couple dressed in eagle feathers preparing to perform a dance. Close by on the malecón... more costumed dancers.
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BAILADORES - ISLA CUALE |
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más bailadores - el malecón |
In colonia Emiliano Zapata (to not buy a fat pig) to purchase a piñata - three freshly caught huachinango (red snapper) hanging on the branch of a tree. A friendly grey, white-throated Pit Bull stood guard in a doorway.
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3 huachinango en colonia emiliano Zapata
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In the hotel zone... the annual tented artisan fair with many dozens of vendors from all over Mexico... clothing... jewelry...shoes and bags..wood toys...pottery... colorful cotton tablecloths, napkins and bedspreads...make-up and mole, etc. After spending two weeks on the green courts where the Puerto Vallarta tennis open was held last spring, the last day is Sunday, the 17th. Open 10 AM to 10:30 PM.
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ARTENSANIA DE MÉXICO |
In colonia Remance to see Marta the dressmaker - the proud owner of a beautiful fighting cock was showing off his new acquisition. Another of his fighting cocks had won the grand prize the night before and was home recovering from wounds.
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Con su nuevo gallo- colonia Remance |
TOMATLÁN, CABO CORRIENTES - Because it was a three-hour drive south, I did not attend this clinic. All clinic photos taken by Leslie Caratachea, vet tech and education director.
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LESLIE Y SU HERIDO POR ESTAR MORDIDO POR UN PERRO EN TOMATLÁN |
The "surgery week" was made more difficult because it took place in three small, poor inland towns - Tequesquite, la Cruz de Loreto and Tomatlán. This meant packing and unpacking surgery tables, kennels and all supplies. Leslie, our vet tech and education director, was bitten by a large dog at the clinic in Tomatlán and taken to the hospital for cleaning of wound and antibiotics.
STERILIZATIONS AT CLINIC IN TOMATLÁN MARCH 13-16
Male Dogs -12;
Female dogs -93;
Male cats - 23;
Female cats -28
TOTAL:156!
PLUS pregnancies terminated for 1 dog with 10 fetuses and 1 dog with 5 fetuses.
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NIÑOS CON LOS LIBRITOS EDUCACIONAL DE PEACEANIMALS - TEQUESQUITE |
DONATIONS AT CLINIC IN TOMATLÁN - 3,339 PESOS
THIS CLINIC WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM FRIENDS OF HOMELESS ANIMALS (FOHA). www.fohari.org
DONATIONS TO PEACEANIMALS:
Michael Turner - $50 US (monthly)
Network for Good - $16.05 US
Del Lehman and Ron Saltarski - 19 used tennis balls; 5 used dog leashes; 14 used dog collars; 1 used dog grooming comb
(I had met Ron and Del at Dee´s coffee shop last September and they kindly brought this heavy bag of supplies down with them from Palm Springs).
"DROPS IN A BUCKET": This month, Monzón Brewing is donating one peso for every bottle cap of beer sold and placed in the bucket marked "PEACEAnimals." Calle Venustiano Carranza 239 in col. Emiliano Zapata. www.monzonbrewing.com
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CLÍNICA EN LA CRUZ DE LORETO |
In 2018, PEACEAnimals sterilized 5,944 cats and dogs.
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CLINICA EN TOMATLÁN |
MARCH
20-23 - San Vicente, Nayarit - San Vicente Del Mar, Mar de Kara #36, frente ferretería Zamudio. Es en San Vicente en el fraccionamiento: San Vicente del Mar.
27-30 - Puerto Vallarta - col. las aralias - en la bodega de Sofi Gonzales - atrás del parque los sauces
APRIL
3-6 - San José, Nayarit
10-13 - la Peñita, Nayarit - PETS FOR LIFE
17-23 - VACACIÓNES - PASCUA/EASTER
24-27 -Talpa (organized by Laura Chavez-Halberg)
MAY
15-18 - San Juan de Abajo, Nayarit
22-25 Mascota
JUNE
12-15 - Colonia Volcanes, Puerto Vallarta (organized by Megan Shelton)
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CLÍNICA EN TOMATLÁN |
PHOTOS OF DOGS FOR ADOPTION AT THE CITY SHELTER (293-3690)
KITTENS AND CATS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION.
FOTOS/NOMBRES Y INFORMACIÓN DE LOS PERROS EN EL ALBERGUE
PARA ADOPCIÓN. TAMBIÉN HAY GATOS Y GATITOS: 293-3690
TO REPORT ANIMAL ABUSE OR RESCUE NEEDED- CALL 911 - ASK FOR THE GREEN PATROL (PATRULLA VERDE) OR CALL THE CITY SHELTER - (322) 293-3690
FOR WEEKLY CLINIC DIRECTIONS (SPANISH ONLY) (322) 113-3955
PARA REPORTAR ABUSO A LOS ANIMALES O PARA ANIMALES QUE NECESITAN AYUDA - LLAME A LA POLICA - 911
Y PIDE LA PATRULLA VERDE - o llama al albergue (322) 293 3690
PLEASE HELP WITH LUNCH DONATIONS FOR PEACEANIMALS VET TEAM.
NECESITAMOS SU APOYO. FAVOR DE DONAR ALMUERZOS PARA NUESTRO EQUIPO.
PEACEAnimals has a lunch budget of 70 pesos per vet team member (four persons) per day - 4 days a week. Fifth person every Wednesday & Thursday is star volunteer, Frank Ohly. Please advise which day you would like to donate. DONATIONS OF LUNCHES MEAN MONEY SAVED FOR CLINIC SUPPLIES.
¡NOS URGEN VOLUNTARIOS PARA LAS CLÍNICAS!
PARA AVISAR: Leslie Caratachea por FB o infopeaceanimals@gmail.com
WE ARE IN SERIOUS NEED OF VOLUNTEERS. Please contact Leslie Caratachea via FB or just drop by. FOR INFORMATION:
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VOLUNTARIOS - CLÍNICA EN TOMATLÁN |
NEEDED: USED/NEW KENNELS FOR CATS AND DOGS AND NEW/USED COLLARS AND LEASHES TO GIVE TO DOG OWNERS AT CLINICS.
$$$$$$ COST PER SURGERY WEEK CLINIC (3.5 days) IS APPROXIMATELY $1,800 USD. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION VIA CHECK, CREDIT CARD, PAYPAL, BEQUEST, OR STOCK TRANSFER.
Note: Stocks are transferred at full value without the donating stock owner being taxed.
PEACEAnimals is under the umbrella of Banderas Bay Charities, Inc., a US 501 (c)(3) charity located in Portland, Oregon.
Please make payments payable to either BBC INC or to full name.
Donations are tax deductible in the US, and should be donor directed for PEACEAnimals.
505 N Tomahawk Is Dr
Portland, OR 97217
Tel:503 285 4007
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PEACEANIMALS VET TEAM - EL EQUIPO DE PEACEANIMALS
DR. ANTHONY, LESLIE, DR. POLI Y DR. PACHECO |
Banderas Bay Charities, Inc (BBC INC) offers tax-deductible receipts in the US and works with other organizations in Canada, and Mexico.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS PAST AND CURRENT SPONSORS OF $1,800 US AND MORE:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT.
Gretchen DeWitt
President – Board of Directors
PEACEANIMALS, A.C. RFC PEA140306l12
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