Protecting killer whale critical habitat should not be a matter of choice, but a matter of the law.
That’s what Ecojustice will be arguing before the federal Court of Appeal today.
On March 27th a juvenile orca was found stranded in Tobago, an island near the top of South America. After a close physical examination it was concluded that the orca had no injuries. Fishermen quickly helped move the orca into deeper water, but it became disoriented and washed ashore again. They tried once more and moved it into deep water, where they followed the orca out until they could not see it anymore. Hopefully this little orca is still swimming safely in the ocean, and thank goodness it didn’t fall into the hands of a marine park. Photos found on the North East Sea Turtles (NEST) Tobago Facebook page.
It has been a sad month for us here, upon learning about the capture of two killer whales in Russia this past August. The first one was likely killed, and only one young adult female remains.
Killer whales are one of the most socially complex animals on the planet. They are very family-orientated; some even stay with their mother for their entire lives. Captures that break up these families are completely unjustifiable in today’s society, where several breeding populations of orcas already reside in human care.
The status of Russia’s wild orca population is unknown, but said to be at risk. While it was thought she would be sold abroad, it is now speculated that this orca has been sold to a new aquarium opening within Russia, a country who has no experience with captive orcas.
There seems to be little awareness of this occurrence; most people are under the impression that cetacean captures no longer happen. Unfortunately, this is not the case (a group of beluga whales were recently captured as well, to be imported to parks across the States). We have received several questions regarding Nakai’s injury at SeaWorld, and have even been sent a link to his feature on American news channels. Where is the media for this lone orca? Her capture is completely contradictory to the idea of conservation that aquariums are meant to promote, and it may also be a way of easing large, accredited aquariums into the wild orca industry once again.
We do not wish to start a debate by posting, and there should be no debate regarding this to begin with. We are intending to share what few others are sharing. And we no longer want to be alone in voicing our concern for this orca.
Please follow Russian Orcas for more updates.
Reblogged : Up close killer whale in the ocean
(Source: fuckyeahkillerwhales)
Reblogged - killer whale Old Tom
Old Tom.
This orca was thought to be the the leader of a pod of killer whales living off the coast of southeast Australia. He and his pod helped the local whalers by herding baleen whales. They also helped to kill the whales. In return, the whalers gave them the tongues and lips of the killed whales, an agreement called the Law of the Tongue.
(via tank-commander)
Reblogged : A robust orca checks out lunch (seal)
(Source: aeronniell)
Reblogged Orcawizard photo! Woot!
Check out the salmon in her mouth!
Photo by Orcawizard
poster by Uko Gorter shows the types of orcas found around the world
Orca
thisstuffexistsfact: On average, a killer whale eats 227 kilograms (500 lb) each day.
Hey look! It’s my photo!! Woot
