Salmon - the call of nature

I travelled to Salmon Arm, BC a few weeks ago to witness the gigantic salmon run this year.

These sockeye salmon originates from the Adams River. Their life mission is to return to where they were born to mate, spawn, and die.

It is impressive too greet these fishes after their 500km upstream swim. It probably took them some time to go against the flow of the river to get there. The salmon stopped eating once it left the ocean. They consumed their body fat and continuously to get to their destination night and day.

On the way, they faced their natural predators: bears, birds, and other animals. But these fishes were determined, they were a big group, and nothing can stop the run. When they reached home, they found their partners, laid the eggs, and died in pairs.

Will the sockeye salmon learn from us and find a more convenient location to reproduce? At this age of global village, do we still care about where we were born, where we live, where we die? As the dividing lines of culture between different nations and people blurs, the fusion generates new culture. The horrible thing is: it doesn't necessary mean we love our neighbours because we see them more.

http://www.bcadventure.com/murphys/adamsriver/salute.htm