Humpback Whale Encounter Captured On Video Author/Photographer Releases Amazing Humpback Whale Encounter to YouTube, Bypassing Traditional Network News Media

Author and underwater photographer Paul J. Mila has released a four-and-half minute video clip showing Pacific humpback whales playing with divers, and then attempting to make contact with them, in Tonga. Mila originally offered the video to major news media, which expressed no interest so he felt that YouTube seemed the most logical venue to reach the public. His motive in publicizing the video is to raise public awareness about continued illegal whaling by Japan and several other nations.

Carle Place, NJ (PRWEB) May 28, 2009 -- Author and underwater photographer Paul J. Mila has released a four-and-half minute video clip showing Pacific humpback whales playing with divers, and then attempting to make contact with them, in Tonga. Mila took still-photos of the encounters, while Rob Barrel, owner of the NAI'A dive operation based in Fiji, shot the incredible video, now available on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra1gUVZs6zM

The video shows the whales cavorting with free-diver John Tresemer, one whale posing belly-up for photographer Mila, and finally another whale pirouetting for videographer Barrel and then extending its pectoral fin, trying to make contact with him.

Mila originally offered the video to major news media, which expressed no interest. Mila said, "The media seems more interested in showing sea creatures making violent blood-and-guts attacks on people, rather than a friendly encounter by an intelligent species attempting human contact. My motive in publicizing this event is to raise public awareness about Japan's continued illegal whaling in protected whale sanctuaries, and world-wide whaling by several other nations. Since the major networks were disinterested in the video, YouTube seemed the most logical venue to reach the public."

Mila noted that Japanese whalers have targeted this population of South Pacific humpbacks, in addition to minke whales and internationally protected rare fin whales. He praised the efforts of the anti-whaling Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, headed by Captain Paul Watson, for saving whales from slaughter by confronting the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.

Mila has experienced numerous encounters with friendly humpback whales in the Silver Bank, near the Dominican Republic, which inspired him to publish his anti-whaling novel, Whales' Angels (AuthorHouse, May 2006), a mystery/adventure thriller about whaling activists battling pirate whalers and international conspirators attempting to overthrow the International Whaling Commission's ban on commercial whaling. Reviews for Whales' Angels, and further information about the book, are available at www.milabooks.com.

For still-photos and information about the whale encounter, contact Paul Mila at paul(at)paulmila.com

For further information about the whale encounter video, contact Rob Barrel at rob(at)naia.com.fj

EDITORS: For interviews, photo requests or review copies, contact:
MILABOOKS.COM - Promotional Services Department
Tel: 516-334-5039
Fax: 516-578-1689 - contact via phone or email prior to transmitting request
Email: paul(at)paulmila.com (When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address)

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