An Update on the Orcas

The topics of whales in captivity has been covered extensively in the press this past month following the death of a Seaworld trainer in Florida. It raises the question all over again about whether these intelligent animals should actually be in captivity at all.

How intelligent are orcas? Take a look at this video to see how they educate their young. And, don't worry about showing it to kids, it seems gruesome as it is a hunting lesson, but I promise it has a happy outcome.



There was an interesting development in the Seaworld story this week with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) purchasing equity in The Blackstone Group which owns Seaworld. While PETA would usually not involve themselves financially with Seaworld, according to their statement, this gives them the legal right to call for the end of the dolphin and whale shows at Seaworld. They are pushing for the animals to be released to coastal sanctuaries - the best option available to most of them who were either born in captivity or captured to young to be reintroduced to the wild. Of the 42 orcas known to be in captivity, 28 of them are spread amongst Seaworld's four parks.

Look out Seaworld. I wouldn't want PETA as my enemy.

42 Captive Killer Whales

42.

Image via Wikipedia

That's how many killer whales are in captivity today. It would be many more if capturing was still in favor, but fortunately that is now frowned upon in most areas of the world.

Sadly, an experienced trainer was killed at Seaworld yesterday by Tillikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale. Much has been made in the news about the two previous human deaths caused by this whale - in 1991, another trainer was killed in Victoria BC after accidentally slipping into the tank and, in 1999, a man was found in the tank after breaking into the park after hours and either accidentally or intentionally swimming with the 12,000 pound whale.

To me, these reports are missing the point. The whales shouldn't be in captivity in the first place. These are intelligent, social creatures who should be left in the wild. What's the difference between these animals and those in zoos and aquariums?

Mostly, it comes down to money. Aquariums and zoos are non-profit organizations focused on conservation and education. These parks, on the other hand, have working animals who generate millions for their owners. Until just a few months ago, Seaworld was owned by Anheuser-Busch (owner of Budweiser). It was sold to The Blackstone Group (owner of Universal Orlando). Of course, to entertain the crowds, the whales need to do tricks. Splashing people gets a lot of laughs and they learn quickly that the way they earn their food is to jump, flip, and perform.

I'm hoping this tragic case generates enough attention to make some permanent changes. Remember, you get the chance to vote with your own pocketbook. Next time you're in San Diego, consider the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park instead. They are all about saving endangered species. I haven't taken my family to Orlando, so I don't know a good animal venue to recommend, but the point is to think about what your money is supporting.

And, what about Tillikum? Seaworld says they won't euthanize her. Sadly, releasing Tillikum isn't an option either. He was captured at a young age 26 years ago from Iceland and little is known about his family (which he would need to reintegrate into the wild). Most of the 42 whales were actually born in captivity. There are a few older whales that could be argued to be good candidates for release. Corky and Lolita are usually the top two on this list because their whale families are known, but their owners, SeaWorld California and Miami Seaquarium, are not in the market to sell.

I had a chance to visit Keiko while he was living at the Oregon Coast Aquarium which was a huge facility compared to the tiny little pools these whales live in today. What if something along those lines was available to the whales that aren't able to be released? It would be a chance to let them live out their lives in peace and put this captive whale practice to an end once and for all.

Dawn Brancheau was the trainer who died yesterday. Let's hope this tragedy brings about positive changes for the animals she loved and respected.

Six New Baby Orcas

The Salish Sea (the new name for Puget Sound and the surrounding waters) is the home to the Southern Resident killer whale population. Recently listed as endangered, they finally have some good news to share - six new baby orcas born in the last year including one just spotted last week! That's not a baby above, that's one of the orcas from L pod - more about her below...

Three orcas also went missing (presumed dead) in the last year which takes their total to only 88 orcas, but it's great to see their numbers rising rather than plummeting as they have in years past. Although there are many potential causes for their decline (boat noise, toxicity, decimation through capture), the availability of salmon is considered the current leading issue for the survival of the orcas. For those of you who haven't known me a few years, these orcas are very near and dear to my heart. The Southern Resident population should technically be 89 if you include Lolita, the one surviving orca from the nearly fifty orcas captured in the 1960s and 1970s. For more info on her, take a look at my Seattle Times articles on Lolita and the history of orca captures. That's her at the top of this post.

Here's a picture from a whale watching trip a few years ago of the one baby orca I've seen in the wild - J42. Have you ever tried taking a picture of a moving animal with a time-delay on your digital camera? Much harder than it looks...

The new baby J47 belongs to J35, a very young mother at the age of 12. Orca life spans and reproductive ages track very similarly to humans so becoming a mother at age 12 is a concern. The good news for these family-centered orcas is that J47 also has a grandmother, aunties, and a few other baby cousins to guide her. Fifty percent of orca babies die before reaching the age of one so J47 will need all the help he or she can get. In addition to the main issue of food supply, baby orcas also test very high in toxicity. All orcas, since they're at the top of the food chain, have toxicity issues, but the babies bear the brunt of it. When they're mothers nurse them, the maternal fat stores pass the toxicity to the babies.

Interested in learning more about orcas? The Southern Resident orcas are the most studied whales in the world and there are some great resources: Center for Whale Research, Killer Whale Tales (this group offers programs for schools), and Orca Network.

Good luck to the six new babies!