Massive Blue Whale to March at Crissy Field This Weekend

By Suzanne Stathatos Fri., Jul. 27 2012 at 12:15 PM

Categories: Animals, Only in SF

Isaac Kohane via Flickr

Thar She Blows!

Are you one of those Shark Week and Free Willy fans who always wondered what it would be like to fill the shoes, or rather, fins, of these sea creatures? Well, here's your chance.

On Sunday, Blue Whale Tatzoo is holding a march at Crissy Field, where participants will be able to create an imitation of a life-sized blue whale to help raise awareness about this endangered species.

Participants will head down to 937 Mason (at California) at 1 p.m. on Sunday, donning their favorite blue garb to fit in with our cetaceous brethren.

During this two-hour event, before assembling and strutting within this imitation maritime mammal, participants will be able to ~~create that blubber~~ eat free food, ~~develop your echolocation~~ listen to live music, and win raffle prizes. During the march of the 98-foot creature, they will be filmed for Tatzoo's documentary to save the whales.

Tatzoo also hopes to gather signatures for the Center for Biological Diversity's petition to the national Oceanic and Atmospheric Association to lower speed limits for commercial ships traveling through whale habitats on the California Coast. Because nobody wants to come across another dead whale.

"Approximately one-third of Blue Whale deaths are caused by ship strikes and many occur yearly right in the Bay Area," according to Tatzoo volunteer Jack Howery.

The media report that blue whale sightings have seen a spike this year in Bay Area waters due to a surge in the krill population -- the blue whale's favorite crustacean. While this may behoove whale spectators, it increases the chances of boat vs. whale collisions.

If you want to save whales from ship strikes, have a chance to win local museum tickets or a saltwater aquarium, or if you just want to get your Shamu on with other maritime fans, join what's sure to be a whale of a good time this Sunday with Tatzoo.

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