Doomed Whale Redeemed

A peculiarly riveting kind of story is that in which humans make amends to individual animals for the sins of their kind. Michael Fishbach's wonderful tale of his encounter with a humpback whale entangled in a fishing net in the Sea of Cortez is the perfect example of the genre: A bit slow to start, full of drama, ultimately redemptive. My kids especially enjoyed the Greek chorus role of the small child off-camera. For those who aren't in the right place at the right time with a sharp knife, visit Earth Island's Great Whale Conservancy here.

 --Paul Rauber