Vancouver Aquarium will not get Orphaned Orca

The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has now confirmed that the Vancouver Aquarium will not be allowed to capture and display the youngest orca in the Southern Resident Orca Population.

Last week, a young orca mom (L 51) born in 1973, washed up dead on Vancouver Island's Southern coast. High levels of toxins are suspected as the cause of death, as well as the reason for her giving birth to a premature baby 5-6 months ago. The baby orca (L 97) has been nicknamed
"Tweek" for showing signs of a type of "Attention Deficit Disorder", also attributed to the contaminated ocean the orcas live in.

Tweek had not been weaned prior to his mother's death, and concerns included the possibility that the baby whale might starve to death. Our concerns also included that the Vancouver Aquarium would use this situation as an excuse to break the law and capture the young orca for display in a tank.

However, the DFO reassured us today that only if the family pod abandons the little one, would humans interfere. The rescue plan would include
placing Tweek in a sea pen until he's ready to go back to his family pod.  The Vancouver Aquarium will not be allowed to capture this baby orca whale.

The best news is that Tweek's family pod, especially his 9 year old brother and an uncle, are trying to teach him to eat fish. We are very hopeful
that little Tweek will survive with the help of his caring family.

The Southern Resident Orca Population has been listed as "Threatened" under the Canadian Endangered Species Act due to its high mortality rate in the last few years. Researchers agree that many factors have contributed to the ongoing extinction of this orca population, including aquarium captures, fish depletion and boat harassment. But we believe pollution is the biggest problem facing the whales right now.

For more information contact:

Annelise Sorg, Director
COALITION FOR NO WHALES IN CAPTIVITY
Tel: (604) 736-9514
Cel: (604) 838-3642
E-mail: annelise@direct.ca
www.whaleprotection.org