Whale (W): Hey tiny tortoise! How are you these days? Very long, no see.
Tortoise-me (T): I am fine, thanks to you who do not eat our clan. You guys primarily eat marine mammals, fish, squid, and other smaller marine life. While some of your species, like killer whales (orcas), may eat sea turtles, you do not consume tortoises as a matter of principle, which I appreciate and am thankful for.
W: Well, that is true. Can I call you small fry and hence do not gobble you up? After all, if I make up my mind, no marine mammal is safe in the sea. But unlike humans, I eat only when I am hungry.
T: Rightly said. I am never safe walking on the beach. Humans either pick me up and throw me in a pond or eat my eggs. I was a common source of food for sailors many 100s of years ago.
W: While humans struggle to kill me, knowing pretty well how I can turn their boats topsy-turvy, they equally fear that I might capture them up in a scoop action too. What they do not know is that my throat is too small to gobble them up.
T: I am able to take night walks only on the beach. But I still do not slim down (laughs). Sometimes early morning walks. But I have to check out for human movement before I leave the sea.
W: Unlike you, I am considered to be very intelligent. My intelligence is demonstrated through various factors, including complex social structures, sophisticated communication, advanced hunting techniques, and strong memory skills. I never forget or spare the one who attacks me. I am not as dumb as you.
T: Well, everyone has his own unique greatness. There is equal evidence to show that we as tortoises are very intelligent. We have been known to navigate mazes with surprising accuracy, suggesting that our cognitive abilities may be underestimated. In fact, there has been research that points to us being able to potentially recognize faces and demonstrate memory capabilities.
W: We are of two types – the baleen whales and the toothed whales. Baleen whales, including humpbacks and blue whales, have fibrous ‘baleen’ plates in their mouths instead of teeth, which help them filter out and consume huge quantities of zooplankton: small prey including krill, fish, or crustaceans called copepods. Whereas toothed whales, such as orcas, belugas, and sperm whales, have teeth that enable them to feed on larger prey such as fish and squid.
T: We eat common plants and leaves that include dandelion leaves, clover, alfalfa, collard greens, Scotch thistle, mustard leaves, and chicory. The common vegetables we eat must include carrots, curly kale, red cabbage, celery, cucumbers, and bell peppers. The common fruits that we must eat include grapes, pears, apples, peaches, and strawberries.
W: We are generally longer than 3 meters (10 feet). We are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall health of the marine environment. We play a significant role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere, which is the buzz of the day nowadays because of global warming. Each great whale sequesters an estimated 33 tons of CO₂ on average, thus playing their part in the fight against climate change.
T: We play a vital role in their ecosystems, often acting as keystone species and ecosystem engineers. Our eating habits potentially impact plant communities. We are also important seed dispersers, contributing to plant diversity and distribution. Our digging and movement also influence soil aeration and habitat structure.
W: Ambergris, a waxy substance found in the digestive system of us sperm whales, has been used as an aphrodisiac, in incense, and as a medicine for various ailments, including digestive issues, heart conditions, and as a general tonic. Whale oil, especially from sperm whales, has also been used medicinally.
T: Our shell powder may be used to treat Raynaud’s disease, while the blood or gall of tortoises has been used for conditions like epilepsy, asthma, and skin issues. Additionally, our flesh is believed to have medicinal properties and is sometimes used as a source of protein and micronutrients.
The Momma Clan 
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