Orphaned orca may be caught and sent to theme park

Orphaned orca may be caught and sent to theme park

Friday, March 1, 2002

By ROBERT McCLURE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Federal fisheries officials are considering capturing a young, orphaned killer whale that has been swimming around Vashon Island for several weeks -- possibly for permanent residence at a theme park.

The National Marine Fisheries Service yesterday asked conservationists what should be done about the female orca, which split off from a group of other killer whales that spends much of its time around the northern end of Vancouver Island in Canada.

The orca, born in August 2000 and identified by NMFS as A-73, isn't eating properly and is showing signs of malnutrition.

A panel of scientists that convened last Friday determined that "the likelihood for long-term survival is low, and that the animal is unlikely to reunite with its pod or join a surrogate (mother)," NMFS reported.

Brian Gorman, an NMFS spokesman, said authorities are concerned.

"We have to intervene at some kind of level and do it sooner rather than later," Gorman said. "We don't have the luxury of time."

NMFS is considering removing the orca to a facility such as Sea World or Six Flags in California, or moving it to a pen of some kind in the Puget Sound area, where it could be fed and monitored by veterinarians until healthy.

Scientists have grave doubts about the rehabilitation-and-release option.

"There is no historic, behavioral or genetic evidence for resident calves leaving a pod and then rejoining it later, or for rejoining a new pod and thriving," the scientists advised NMFS.

The orca tried to reunite with its pod after its mother died, but was rejected. Its closest living relative appears to be a grandmother.

Fred Felleman, an activist with Orca Conservancy, said he's concerned that the orca seems to have become accustomed to people.

He said authorities should keep it isolated from people in a net pen somewhere in Puget Sound until it recovers.

His group is asking the public to keep away from the whale.

"The animal is unfortunately somewhat socially starved, and interacting with humans would be the kiss of death for it," Felleman said.

"We really want to discourage people in their efforts to be benevolent to it. Once it becomes habituated to people, it will be looking for handouts rather than making a living on its own."

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