The Whale, Inside: Ending Cetacean Captivity in Canada* Katie Sykes**
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Captive Orcas
Captive Orcas ‘Dying to Entertain You’ The Full Story A report for Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) Chippenham, UK Produced by Vanessa Williams Contents Introduction Section 1 The showbiz orca Section 2 Life in the wild FINgerprinting techniques. Community living. Social behaviour. Intelligence. Communication. Orca studies in other parts of the world. Fact file. Latest news on northern/southern residents. Section 3 The world orca trade Capture sites and methods. Legislation. Holding areas [USA/Canada /Iceland/Japan]. Effects of capture upon remaining animals. Potential future capture sites. Transport from the wild. Transport from tank to tank. “Orca laundering”. Breeding loan. Special deals. Section 4 Life in the tank Standards and regulations for captive display [USA/Canada/UK/Japan]. Conditions in captivity: Pool size. Pool design and water quality. Feeding. Acoustics and ambient noise. Social composition and companionship. Solitary confinement. Health of captive orcas: Survival rates and longevity. Causes of death. Stress. Aggressive behaviour towards other orcas. Aggression towards trainers. Section 5 Marine park myths Education. Conservation. Captive breeding. Research. Section 6 The display industry makes a killing Marketing the image. Lobbying. Dubious bedfellows. Drive fisheries. Over-capturing. Section 7 The times they are a-changing The future of marine parks. Changing climate of public opinion. Ethics. Alternatives to display. Whale watching. Cetacean-free facilities. Future of current captives. Release programmes. Section 8 Conclusions and recommendations Appendix: Location of current captives, and details of wild-caught orcas References The information contained in this report is believed to be correct at the time of last publication: 30th April 2001. Some information is inevitably date-sensitive: please notify the author with any comments or updated information. -
Killer Controversy, Why Orcas Should No Longer Be Kept in Captivity
Killer Controversy Why orcas should no longer be kept in captivity ©Naomi Rose - HSI Prepared by Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Senior Scientist September 2011 The citation for this report should be as follows: Rose, N. A. 2011. Killer Controversy: Why Orcas Should No Longer Be Kept in Captivity. Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States, Washington, D.C. 16 pp. © 2011 Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States. All rights reserved. i Table of Contents Table of Contents ii Introduction 1 The Evidence 1 Longevity/survival rates/mortality 1 Age distribution 4 Causes of death 5 Dental health 5 Aberrant behavior 7 Human injuries and deaths 8 Conclusion 8 Ending the public display of orcas 9 What next? 10 Acknowledgments 11 ii iii Killer Controversy Why orcas should no longer be kept in captivity Introduction Since 1964, when a killer whale or orca (Orcinus orca) was first put on public display1, the image of this black-and-white marine icon has been rehabilitated from fearsome killer to cuddly sea panda. Once shot at by fishermen as a dangerous pest, the orca is now the star performer in theme park shows. But both these images are one-dimensional, a disservice to a species that may be second only to human beings when it comes to behavioral, linguistic, and ecological diversity and complexity. Orcas are intelligent and family-oriented. They are long-lived and self- aware. They are socially complex, with cultural traditions. They are the largest animal, and by far the largest predator, held in captivity. -
WINTER 2016 / VOLUME 65 / NUMBER 4 Concern—For the Trump Administration
WINTER 2016 / VOLUME 65 / NUMBER 4 concern—for the Trump administration. Prominent transition figures and names floated for key cabinet posts portend a disastrous direction for conservation in America. President- elect Trump says he will “cancel” the Paris climate accord A Letter from the President and approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline. And though the of AWI sins of the sons perhaps cannot be imputed to the father, it is gravely unsettling to see photos of Eric and Donald Jr. posing After perhaps the most disheartening, divisive campaign in proudly with lifeless “trophies”—a leopard and an elephant modern memory, the votes have been tabulated. Next year, among them—that were gunned down on safari. Meanwhile, a new administration will plant its flag in Washington, DC. we anticipate another Congress in which many of the most A new Congress will convene. A new era will begin for the powerful remain fixated on eroding or erasing hard-won legal citizens of America and, by extension, the citizens of the protections for animals. world affected by American policy. And so, we must redouble our efforts. The Animal Welfare The same can be said for the world’s animals. What happens in Institute will work on the ground, in court, and with Washington has ramifications for wild and domestic animals humanitarians in Congress and the executive branch to see across the country and throughout the world. Ideally, therefore, that animal suffering is addressed and alleviated, that what has an incoming administration would recognize the need to been gained will not be lost. protect biodiversity, take a moral stand against senseless cruelty in animal agriculture and other commercial sectors, and It will be difficult. -
Stopping the Use, Sale and Trade of Whales and Dolphins in Canada How Protection Is Consistent with WTO Obligations
Stopping the use, sale and trade of whales and dolphins in Canada How protection is consistent with WTO obligations Prepared by Leesteffy Jenkins, Attorney at Law 219 West Main St., P.O. Box 634 Hillsborough, NH 03244-0634 Phone (603) 464-4395 For ZOOCHECK CANADA INC. 3266 Yonge Street, Suite 1417 Toronto, Ontario M4N 3P6 (416) 285-1744 (p) (416) 285-4670 (f ) [email protected] www.zoocheck.com This legal analysis was commissioned by Zoocheck Canada as part of a research initiative looking into how trade laws impact the trade and use of whales and dolphins in Canada, and to educate the public about the same. Page 1 April 25, 2003 QUESTION PRESENTED Whether a Canadian ban on the import and export of live cetaceans, wild-caught, captive born or those caught earlier in the wild and now considered captive, would violate Canada's obligations pursuant to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements. CONCLUSION It is my understanding that there is currently no specific Canadian legislation banning the import/export of live cetaceans. Based on the facts* presented to me, however, it is my opinion that such legislation could be enacted consistent with WTO rules. This memorandum attempts to outline both the conditions under which Canadian regulation of trade in live cetaceans may be consistent with the WTO Agreements, as well as provide some guidance in the crafting of future legislation. PEER REVIEW & COMMENTS Chris Wold, Steve Shrybman, Esq Clinical Professor of Law and Director Sack, Goldblatt, Mitchell International Environmental Law Project 20 Dundas Street West, Ste 1130 Northwestern School of Law Toronto, Ontario M5G 2G8 Lewis and Clark College Tel.: (416) 979-2235 10015 SW Terwilliger Blvd Email: [email protected] Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. -
The Whale and the Region: Orca Capture and Environmentalism in the New Pacific Northwest Jason Colby
Document generated on 09/25/2021 11 a.m. Journal of the Canadian Historical Association Revue de la Société historique du Canada The Whale and the Region: Orca Capture and Environmentalism in the New Pacific Northwest Jason Colby Volume 24, Number 2, 2013 Article abstract Although the orca is today widely recognized as a cultural and ecological icon URI: https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1025084ar of the Pacific Northwest, historians have ignored the impact of killer whale DOI: https://doi.org/10.7202/1025084ar capture on the development of the region’s environmental values and identity. Between 1964 and 1976, the waters in southern British Columbia and See table of contents Washington State were the world’s principal source of captive killer whales. The display of orcas by the region’s aquariums transformed human perceptions of this marine predator, and soon aquariums around the world Publisher(s) were placing orders for Pacific Northwest killer whales. Yet the expanding capture and export of orcas in the late 1960s and early 1970s raised troubling The Canadian Historical Association / La Société historique du Canada ecological and moral questions for the region’s human residents. In the context of shifting attitudes toward cetaceans and rising environmental awareness ISSN throughout North America, Pacific Northwesters on both sides of the border increasingly viewed orcas as symbols of their region’s shared ecological 0847-4478 (print) concerns. The transnational nature of the region’s killer whale pods helped 1712-6274 (digital) spur not only ecological reflection but also transborder cooperation among activists, scientists, and government officials to study and eventually protect Explore this journal the species. -
Mother-Calf Distance During Adult Agonistic Interactions in Captive Killer Whales (Orcinus Orca)
Mother-calf distance during adult agonistic interactions in captive killer whales (Orcinus orca) Animal Behavior Society Snowbird, Utah Cerrene Giordano and Michael Noonan, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York August, 2006 Introduction Results Involvement in intra-specific aggression can be very The eight episodes were characterized by brief periods of high costly to females if it increases the risk of separation intensity chasing that were repeated on average 9.6 times per from their offspring. This can be particularly true in episode. The individual bursts of chasing averaged 8.1 sec in species in which dependant offspring ordinarily duration. The period from first chase to last averaged 12.1 accompany their mother closely throughout the day. mins. We examined inter-whale distance in a captive The average inter-whale distance is depicted in Figure 1 as a population of killer whales in order to asses the function of behavioral phase. Overall, the average distance extent to which a calf was separated from its mother between the calf and its mother was smaller than that between during agonistic interactions between adults. the calf and its father (F(1,7)=97.4, p< .001). The Father-Son distance differed significantly between the time-matched Day- Before and all four phases on the day of aggression. By contrast, Mother-Son distances did not differ significantly from the time-matched Day-Before. Methods Subsequent pairwise comparisons for the mother-calf dyad The subjects were three killer whales (one adult showed the average distance in the Inter-Chase and Post- male, one adult female, and their joint male Chase phases to be significantly lower than during the Chase offspring) held at Marineland of Canada (Niagara phase. -
What the Whale Was: Orca Cultural Histories in British Columbia Since 1964
WHAT THE WHALE WAS: ORCA CULTURAL HISTORIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA SINCE 1964 by Mark T. Werner B.A., St. Olaf College, 2008 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in The Faculty of Graduate Studies (History) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) December 2010 © Mark T. Werner, 2010 Abstract My thesis argues that indigenous historical narratives demonstrate an understanding of the killer whale subjectivity that settler society is only beginning to comprehend. Set in the late 20th century, a period when human relationships with killer whales were undergoing a fast-paced reconfiguration, my research explores the spaces of orca-human encounter in regards to three killer whales: Moby Doll, the world’s first orca held in captivity; Skana, the first orca showcased at the Vancouver Aquarium; and Luna, the orphaned orca of Nootka Sound. Each example speaks to the common process by which humans project culturally-specific narratives and beliefs onto the lives of the whales. In the case of Moby Doll, I argue that the dominant discourse regarding the whale conformed to a strict gender script that functioned to silence other narratives and realities of Moby’s captivity. In my following chapter, I look at how the close relationship between Paul Spong and Skana inspired the scientist to abandon his most fundamental assumptions about orcas in favor of new affordances for orca subjectivity. Furthermore, I argue that the scientific research of John Lilly, a scientist who had a similar conversion experience with dolphins, inspired whole new literatures and imaginations of intelligent dolphins in New Age culture. -
Orcinus Orca) Disseminated by Public Display Institutions and the Scientific Literature
OBSERVATIONS OF DISPARITY BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL RELATED TO KILLER WHALES (ORCINUS ORCA) DISSEMINATED BY PUBLIC DISPLAY INSTITUTIONS AND THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE ERICH HOYT Consultant to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society Bath, England BA1 2BT U.K HOWARD E. GARRETT Center for Whale Research Friday Harbor, Washington 98250 U.S.A. NAOMI A. ROSE The Humane Society of the United States Washington, D.C. 20037 U.S.A.* ABSTRACT All U.S. and Canadian marine mammal parks holding at least one killer whale (Orcinus orca) were surveyed by telephone, mail, the Internet or personal visit to ascertain information dissemi- nated to the public concerning longevity estimates and other information for this species. When available, other attributable literature and public statements were included in the survey. Responses are given for each marine mammal park that responded. These data were then compared with the constitution of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM), professionally recognized standards for content of education and conservation programs as described by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (the Al- liance) and the most recent scientific literature to determine whether a disparity existed between public explanations of killer whale life spans and recent scientific literature. All educational material derived from the four Sea World marine parks, Marineland of Ontario, and the Miami Seaquarium contained longevity information that significantly and consistently contradicted recent scientific literature. Marine World Africa USA and the Vancouver Public Aquarium provided information generally consistent with the literature. Possible rationales for providing inaccurate information, implications for meaningful discourse on related topics and reliability of other information provided by marine parks are discussed. -
Orcinus Orca)
Journal of Veterinary Behavior 35 (2020) 69e82 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Veterinary Behavior journal homepage: www.journalvetbehavior.com Wild Animal Research - Cetaceans The harmful effects of captivity and chronic stress on the well-being of orcas (Orcinus orca) Lori Marino a,*, Naomi A. Rose b, Ingrid N. Visser c, Heather Rally d, Hope Ferdowsian e, Veronica Slootsky f a Whale Sanctuary Project, Kanab, Utah b Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC c Orca Research Trust, Tutukaka, New Zealand d Foundation to Support Animal Protection, Norfolk, Virginia e Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico f Mid Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, Burke, Virginia article info abstract Article history: Orcas are large, deep-diving cetaceans who are known for their global distribution, wide-ranging Received 14 January 2019 behavior, intelligence, and social complexity. They possess one of the largest and most complex brains Received in revised form in the mammalian kingdom. However, they are the third most common species of cetaceans kept in 25 May 2019 aquariums and marine theme parks. Most spend many years, and sometimes decades, in captivity. At the Accepted 28 May 2019 time of writing, 60 individuals are held in concrete tanks globally. The scientific data on how both wild- Available online 15 June 2019 caught and captive-born orcas fare in captivity are increasingly robust in demonstrating that they cannot thrive under artificial circumstances in concrete tanks. In captivity, orcas exhibit a wide range of Keywords: orca abnormal behaviors and often die at an early age from infections and other health conditions that are killer whale uncommon in a wild setting. -
Killer Controversy Why Orcas Should No Longer Be Kept in Captivity
Killer Controversy Why orcas should no longer be kept in captivity ©Naomi Rose Prepared by Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. March 2014 The citation for this report should be as follows: Rose, N. A. 2014. Killer Controversy: Why Orcas Should No Longer Be Kept in Captivity. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, D.C. 16 pp. © 2011 Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States. All rights reserved. © 2014 Animal Welfare Institute. All rights reserved. i Table of Contents Table of Contents ii Introduction 1 The Evidence 1 Longevity/survival rates/mortality 1 Age distribution 4 Causes of death 5 Dental health 5 Aberrant behavior 7 Human injuries and deaths 8 Conclusion 8 Ending the public display of orcas 9 What next? 10 Acknowledgments 11 ii iii Killer Controversy Why orcas should no longer be kept in captivity Introduction Since 1964, when a killer whale or orca (Orcinus orca) was first put on public display,1 the image of this black-and-white marine icon has been rehabilitated from fearsome killer to cuddly sea panda. Once shot at by fishermen as a dangerous pest, the orca is now the star performer in theme park shows. But both these images are one-dimensional, a disservice to a species that may be second only to human beings when it comes to behavioral, linguistic, and ecological diversity and complexity. Orcas are intelligent and family-oriented. They are long-lived and self- aware. They are socially complex, with cultural traditions. They are the largest animal, and by far the largest predator, held in captivity. -
Letter Fromthepresident
ACS ANNUALImportant APPEAL Page 15 Spyhopper ACS NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2017 LETTER FROMTHEPRESIDENT Dear ACS Members, appreciate the many people who have Let me begin by thanking all of you who contributed to, and passionately worked have supported the American Cetacean for, our organization, from its beginnings Society throughout its fifty-year history. in 1967 by founders Elizabeth “Bemi” Although it is an organization for and deBus and Dr. Clark Cameron, to today. about whales, it needs people like you to We thank all of you! further our aim to educate the public and One could assume that we would have help cetacean conservation efforts. celebrated our golden jubilee with great As we are closing our 50th anniversary fanfare. Instead however, we tried to take year, it is good to take a moment to stock of where we are today. The world has changed so much these five decades, as does the way organizations like ours communicate with their members and WHAT’SINSIDE engage with the public at large. Like any long-lived organization, ACS has seen its 1 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT struggles. How can a whale and dolphin conservation group remain relevant in an 3 ACS CHAPTER REPORTS ever-changing landscape of social media and endless flood of information? 15 ANNUAL APPEAL So, we rolled up our sleeves. We JODI FREDIANI Blue fluke in Monterey Bay. Letter cont. partnered with MemberClicks to both who have worked tirelessly to bring more effectively manage our membership their passion for whales into their and a way for our members to become communities through meetings, more engaged with ACS. -
Pseudorca Crassidens)
Aquatic Mammals 1999, 25.3, 183–191 Nursing behavior in captive false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) Steven T. Clark and Daniel K. Odell SeaWorld, Inc., 7007 SeaWorld Drive, Orlando, FL 32821-8097 USA Abstract Killer whales (Orcinus orca) have also received considerable attention (Bigg, 1982; Christensen, The nursing behavior of two false killer whale 1984; Walker et al., 1988; Robeck et al., 1993; (Pseudorca crassidens) calves born at SeaWorld Duffield et al, 1995). More specifically, reproductive Florida was observed continually during the first questions dealing with nursing behaviors have been 13 weeks of life. Nursing parameters, including examined in bottlenose dolphins (Reid et al., 1995), total nursing time (mins/week), time spent nursing beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) (Drinnan and (mins/hour), suckles/hour, bouts/hour, suckles/ Sadleir, 1981; Russell et al., 1997) and killer whales bout, suckle duration (secs) and bout duration (Asper et al., 1988; Clark and Odell, SeaWorld, (secs), peaked during the first week of life then Inc., unpublished data). In the literature, there is a slowly diminished. Mean nursing amount (mins) scarcity of information dealing with nursing behav- per week could be separated into three blocks. iors of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens). Nursing was most intense during week 1, followed Much of what is known about the reproductive by lesser amounts in the 2–8 week block, dropping biology of these animals has been gathered from further in the final 9–13 weeks. Though calves mass strandings (Purves and Pilleri, 1978; Odell and exhibited similar nursing patterns, there were sig- McClune, 1999). Consequently, very few details are nificant differences between them among the par- known about aspects of nursing behavior in these ameters examined, perhaps as a result of individual animals and may be related to the obvious difficul- variations in calves and mothers.