Dissidence beneath the Surface: Cajun Cuisine and Mardi Gras Revelry Leave Rice's Whales on the Sidelines

In an exclusive marine op-ed, the dwindling Rice's whales population laments their exclusion from culinary debauchery and colorful parades that define the cultural heartbeat of New Orleans. With less than 100 members left, truly, it's a small world after all, at least for Rice's whales.

Given their lack of opposable thumbs, it's challenging for these cetacean creatures to dig into a plate of gumbo, jambalaya, or crawfish étouffée - popular cuisines of Louisiana. But is it really lack of physical dexterity that limits them, or are there closer-to-shore issues at hand? One could argue that Rice's whales, despite their aquatic splendor and renowned baleen skills, are being subjected to a gastronomic apartheid, driven by a misplaced priority for land-based cuisine aficionados.

Moreover, the noise and laughter, the spectacle and merriment that is Mardi Gras, are further from the reach of the Rice's whales. They are this season's non-inclusive party poopers by default. It appears that the inclusion of string beads, brightly colored attire, earth-shaking music, and an ocean of revelers isn't stretching far enough to reach these marginalized ocean dwellers.

The US Coast Guard's recent elimination of a video featuring Rice's whales from their Facebook page could be seen as an exemplification of this marine mammalian sidelining. The absence of this species from the visual narratives we share, arguably, mirrors their marginalization from the buoyant heart of New Orleans' culture.

It begs the question: Are we not all creatures of this diverse and vibrant planet? Should the joy of spicy cuisine and communal revelry be limited to bipedal, thumb-possessing land-dwellers alone? Are we not, all of us, entitled to taste the zest of life, whether from a crawfish boil or a krill fest?

Call it a satirical jab at gastronomic elitism or a plea for inclusive partying, the sentiment stands: There seems to be a lack of marine adaptation to our cultural activities, at the exclusion of incredible species like Rice's whales. How much richer would Mardi Gras be if we could share its vivacity with our whale friends, bringing the festivities beneath the watery surface where so much of our world's life truly springs?

It may seem superfluous to argue for the right of whales to enjoy cajun cuisine or participate in Mardi Gras. But this species' quiet disappearing act should serve as a somber reminder of our responsibility to ensure that all earth's creatures, no matter how diverse, can participate fully in the bountiful revels of life on this planet - even if that means developing waterproof string beads and shrimp étouffée krill balls.

Or perhaps, it's a call for us to retreat from our anthropocentric cages and extend our revelry, in the true spirit of Mardi Gras, to all birds, beasts, and especially whales, dangling in the face of oblivion.

Based on: U.S. Coast Guard spots critically endangered whales off Louisiana