SAVING A KILLER WHALE YV Introduction It was a story made for everyone look- kind of cost and effort would it take to Focus ing for good news in difficult times: a keep the entire population from further The story of the spunky and endearing heroine, a situa- declining? Should we even attempt to rescue and return to her family pod tion of great danger, a difficult choice do so? of Springer, the to be made, a platoon of heroes to the If Springer could not rejoin her killer whale, en- rescue, and (as of October 2002) a very family, should she be kept in an thralled both happy ending. We watched breathlessly aquarium? What about the whales Canadians and as Springer’s condition worsened, already captive in aquariums and theme Americans. It also cheered as governments and scientists parks, often the headline performers in raised awareness and interest in came to her rescue, and delighted in her elaborate shows? Was there a valid several issues recovery and release. reason for keeping them away from involving our their fellow animals, since Springer treatment of these Serious Questions demonstrated such enthusiasm on being and other beauti- returned to her pod? ful, sophisticated Underlying the story, however, were marine mammals. some darker questions. Why was this What of the whaling nations like young whale, much too young to have Japan and Norway? Most of the world left her mother and her birth pod, so has given up hunting whales, but some countries continue to kill some whales YV Sections alone? What happened to her mother? marked with this Was Springer’s situation the result of a and would like to be able to harvest symbol indicate simple accident, exclusive to her alone, even more of them. Is their case for content suitable for or was it one symptom of a developing resuming intensive whaling operations younger viewers. problem with resident whales off Brit- a legitimate one? ish Columbia’s coast? At present, it seems that Springer has And what of other killer whales? been successfully reunited with her Many scientists have indicated that family, and the rescue effort, the first of entire whale populations off the North- its kind, has been a great success. But the west Pacific coast are now threatened. It larger questions do remain. Governments, took incredible effort and $500 000 to scientists and the public will likely con- reunite Springer with her family; what tinue to debate them for years to come. Discussion Is the story of Springer’s rescue more than just a feel-good story? Is it likely to have any further effect in drawing public attention to some of the major questions affecting the future of marine mammals? Explain. CBC News in Review • October 2002 • Page 46 SAVING A KILLER WHALE YV Video Review 1. Why is Springer’s story so important? To learn more about the amazing story of Springer and the problems facing other killer whales, view the video report and respond to the 2. How might one describe the relationship between humans and questions on this killer whales? and the following page. For current infor- mation about killer whales, visit Orcalab, 3. How did Springer gain the world’s attention? (www.orcalab.org) a land-based research station on the Inside Passage of northern Van- couver Island. 4. Why were scientists concerned about Springer’s obvious attach- ment to humans? 5. How was Springer treated after her “capture”? 6. What groundbreaking plan did Canadian and American scientists propose for Springer? CBC News in Review • October 2002 • Page 47 7. How did scientists know where Springer’s family was located? 8. What setback did Springer experience after being reunited with her pod? 9. What specific evidence is there that Springer has successfully been returned to the wild? 10. Why have killer whales become such a threatened species? 11. In your opinion, what is the message of the Springer story? After Viewing the Video Have you ever seen whales in an aquarium or the wild? Briefly describe the experience. CBC News in Review • October 2002 • Page 48 SAVING A KILLER WHALE YV Citizen of the Seven Seas Even among other whales, killer form groups of up to 100 individuals. Did you know . whales, also known as orcas, are very Pods are always led by females, and Bull orcas range in special animals. They are found in all have a distinct social hierarchy. Pod length from 5.8 to 6.7 metres, and in the world’s oceans, and are the most members work together when hunting, weight from 3628 widely distributed mammal next to forcing prey into areas where the to 5442 kilograms? humans. They have even been seen whales may take turns feeding. They Females are hunting in freshwater rivers in Europe use sound both to locate their prey smaller, at 4.9-5.8 and North America. The actual world (echolocation) and to stun it. Some- metres and 1361- population is unknown, because very times they suddenly slide up onto the 3628 kilos. few groups of killer whales have been shore (beaching) to frighten seals and well studied. The largest population of penguins into the water where other killer whales, in Antarctica, is thought orcas lie in wait. to number anywhere from 70000 to Orcas have a very distinctive appear- 180 000. ance: black and white colour pattern, Four groups off the west coast of blunt head and very high dorsal (back) North America are relatively well fin. The colouration—black above, known. These include a group of 250 white below —is believed to assist off southeastern Alaska, and three them in hunting, making it difficult for groups of 300—one living off Western prey above or below them to spot the Alaska and in the Bering Sea, a second whales. in Prince William Sound, and a third off The dorsal fin of male orcas is the the British Columbia coast and in Puget tallest of any cetacean (the order of Sound. marine mammals that includes whales, British Columbia’s killer whale dolphins, and porpoises). The fin comes population is normally divided into in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, three categories: resident, transient and sometimes upright, sometimes bent. offshore. The groups are determined by Scientists use this fin to identify indi- both genetic and acoustic differences, viduals in the groups they are studying. as well as by their geographic range, Scientists also use orcas’ vocaliza- diet, social organization and behaviour. tions to identify them. Different groups The two resident groups—northern and of whales have their own “dialects” in southern (Springer is part of the north- which they communicate. The sounds ern group)—travel in pods, eat only of different groups and pods can actu- fish, and remain mostly in waters that ally be identified (Springer, although are less than 200 metres deep. she was first located in waters off the Killer whales, while actually smaller United States, was known to be Cana- than most other whales, are the largest dian because of her unique vocal pat- predator mammal. They feed on fish, tern). squid, birds and other marine mammals. The gestation period for killer whales Like most whales, orcas are highly is 13 to 16 months. At birth, calves are social animals. They travel in pods— about two metres long and weigh groups usually consisting of from five almost 190 kilograms. Calves stay with to 30 whales. Sometimes these pods their mothers for two years. CBC News in Review • October 2002 • Page 49 In some areas, including the waters become concentrated in their bodies. Students wishing to off southern British Columbia, the killer These pollutants make them susceptible learn more about whale population has been in decline in to disease and cause reproductive killer whales should visit, among other recent years. Possible causes include difficulties. sites, harassment by whale-watching boats, Canada is concerned about the future www.seaworld.org/ noise from ships, and decreasing of killer whales. They are considered to infobooks/ salmon stocks. be vulnerable—including those in the KillerWhale/ Recent studies have also shown that waters off British Columbia. Marine home.html hosted by SeaWorld. A orcas are among the most contaminated biologists are currently working to companion site of marine mammals in the world. Because determine the precise causes for their interest especially they are at the top of the food chain, decline. to teachers is pollutants in the creatures they eat www.seaworld.org/ teacherguides/ index.html. To Consider 1. The sophisticated vocal communication ability of killer whales and other cetaceans seems to be unique among marine animals. How might this affect human attitudes toward them when viewing them as another “natural resource”? 2. What could studying killer whales tell us about the ecosystem in which they live? CBC News in Review • October 2002 • Page 50 SAVING A KILLER WHALE YV A73 a.k.a. “Springer” The “lone killer whale juvenile” who only complicated the issue. Many You can read about ultimately became known as Springer to worried that, although the aquarium had the latest Springer sightings and her millions of fans and supporters was expressed no desire to keep the whale consult a lengthy first seen in U.S. waters near Vashon and planned to reintroduce it to its birth list of news stories Island in Puget Sound. Using photo pod, Springer might end up as a perma- about her rescue at catalogues and audio recordings, scien- nent captive in Vancouver. Several the Vancouver tists soon identified her as A73, a conservation groups actually made a bid Aquarium Web site: www.vanaqua.org northern resident whale whose pod to take over Springer’s care, suggesting summered in Canadian waters.