Captive Cetaceans: A Handbook for Campaigners - Whale and ...

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graceful, but not particularly fast swimmers, capable of sculling with their tail to swim backwards. They may spyhop and lobtail, but rarely breach, and are not known especially for "performing. Life expectancy is believed to be about 35-50 years, gestation is about 14 months. Industry sources indicate 30-50 years as maximum captive lifespan (Geraci, 1986) Orcas... Orcas, or killer whales (Orcinus orca) are found worldwide, but most often congregate in the colder waters of the North Pacific, North Atlantic and Antarctia. They are the largest members of the dolphin family, and the top predator in the sea. Although not endangered, they are the most studied of all marine mammals. Resident orcas off Vancouver Island may venture 75-100 miles (120-160 km) per day in summer following salmon and still further during winter (Hoyt, 1992). Without question, the orca is the most controversial of all cetacean species maintained in captivity today, and the largest cetacean ever brought into captivity for extended periods. Adults attain large sizes, males average 22 to 27 feet (6.7-8.2 m), and may weigh 8,000 to 12,000 pounds (3,628-5,442 kg); females average 17 to 24 feet (5.2-7.3 m), and may weigh 3,000 to 8,000 pounds (1,361-3,628 kg). Studies in the Pacific Northwest suggest that there are two socially and genetically isolated forms, known as "residents" and "transients” distinguished by differences in appearance, behaviour and diet. In recent years, a third form, dubbed "offshores,” has been recognised Resident orca communities appear unique among mammalian social systems, consisting of pods which travel together, and matrilineal family groups where individuals never permanently leave the group into which they are born whilst their mother is alive (Olesiuk et al, 1990; Ford et al, 1994). Residents possess pod-specific dialects. Transients have demonstrated spatial separation, at least for long periods, but common dialects and occasional gatherings suggest that social bonds endure. Female orcas have a mean life expectancy of 50.2 years, maximum 80-90 years; males have a mean life expectancy of 29.2 years, maximum 50-60 years (Olesiuk et al, 1990). Gestation is about 17 months. Most industry sources insist around 35 years as the maximum captive lifespan. Pilot whales.. Pilot whales consist of two species: the long-finned (Globicephala melaena), found in temperate and subpolar regions of the Atlantic, Indian, and South Pacific seas; and the short-finned (Globicephala macrohynchus), found in tropical and warm temperate oceans. The subtle differences between the two species consist mainly of the length of the pectoral fins, number of teeth, and shape of the skull. Pilot whales are gregarious animals, herding in numbers up to several hundred individuals, and are often observed with other small cetacean species. Frequently seen resting at the surface, they will occasionally lobtail and spyhop, but rarely breach. Pilot whales are social animals, which apparently live in family clusters without permanent adult males. They have often been observed socializing by touching each other, predominantly with their pectoral fins. 8
Norris and Pryor (1991) noted that pods contained older, post-reproductive females, suggesting the possibility that their function may be that of "long-term memory", communicating to other pod members information on locating food, and migration routes. Some 445 have been photo-identified in the Canary Islands since 1989 (Heimlich-Boran, 1992). They may randomly dive as deep as 2,000 ft. (600 m), primarily feeding on squid. Pilot whales are known to strand in great numbers on beaches. Males average about 20 feet (6 m) and 7,000 pounds (3,200 kg), females are slightly smaller. Life expectancy for females is believed about 65 years, and about 45 to 50 years for males. Industry sources suggest 40-50 years as maximum captive lifespan (Geraci, 1986). Pseudorcas.. False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), sometimes called Pacific black whales, are found in all temperate and tropical seas. They are one of several species known to beach or strand in large numbers. Little is known about their life in the wild; however, it appears that males and females of all ages travel together. They live in tight pods that vary in size from fewer than 10 to more than 100 individuals. False killer whales are exceptionally active for their size, and can execute high leaps and make rapid turns and sudden stops. They are known to be opportunistic feeders, consuming largely squid and fish. Aggressive behaviour towards other cetacean species has been observed both in wild and captive populations. Males may exceed 20 feet (6 m) and weigh about 2,600 pounds (1,200 kg); females are slightly smaller. Life expectancy is believed to be about 35 years. Industry sources suggest average longevity at 20-25 years (Sea World, 1989). 9
Page 1 and 2: Captive Cetaceans: A Handbook for C
Page 3 and 4: APPENDICES A: Cetacean-Free Facilit
Page 6 and 7: SECTION 1 Introducing cetaceans...
Page 10 and 11: SECTION 2 Captivity Capture methods
Page 12 and 13: chronic inactive hepatitis, acute h
Page 14 and 15: Mexico from Texas to northwest Flor
Page 16 and 17: SECTION 3 Confinement.. More consid
Page 18 and 19: In August 1967, Marineland of the P
Page 20 and 21: In early January 1987, Kotar report
Page 22 and 23: age, or to illnesses or injuries th
Page 24 and 25: SECTION 4 Responses to typical pro-
Page 26 and 27: NMFS authorized four facilities to
Page 28 and 29: Response: While many people do visi
Page 30 and 31: ‘It’s not natural’ (given by
Page 32 and 33: catch a few zzz's in the seas, danc
Page 34 and 35: evidence for supposing that captive
Page 36 and 37: population dynamics. Photo-identifi
Page 38 and 39: (like talking about ‘motivation',
Page 40 and 41: SECTION 5 Refuting the myths. The a
Page 42 and 43: Most disturbing is the number of pe
Page 44 and 45: • Zoos have rarely acknowledged p
Page 46 and 47: Aquarium. "The students did not get
Page 48 and 49: species will be increasingly essent
Page 50 and 51: yielded some important findings on
Page 52 and 53: interesting questions about the sys
Page 54 and 55: from the other whales during the bi
Page 56 and 57: Sea World's 1993 handout, The Facts
Page 58 and 59:
particular animal was subdominant a
Page 60 and 61:
Conclusion... Captive breeding is a
Page 62 and 63:
volunteers of the Whale Rescue Team
Page 64 and 65:
Diego, has said, "We don't have a s
Page 66 and 67:
Recently, the origin of the profess
Page 68 and 69:
strategies is convincing policy mak
Page 70 and 71:
mammal community definitely knows w
Page 72 and 73:
Larry McInerney, who constructed th
Page 74 and 75:
SECTION 8 Alternatives to cetacean
Page 76 and 77:
Despite their continuing insistence
Page 78 and 79:
that human-designed naturalistic en
Page 80 and 81:
discovered that zoos are not, in fa
Page 82 and 83:
Clearly, reintroductions are certai
Page 84 and 85:
Aquarium - was disposed of at sea,
Page 86 and 87:
eceived extensive publicity interna
Page 88 and 89:
Lolita, the oldest surviving captiv
Page 90 and 91:
through a meticulously-planned, gra
Page 92:
dollars). By 1988, concrete tanks h
Page 95 and 96:
AZA/Alliance. (1993, July 28). Test
Page 97 and 98:
Brumsted, R. (1984, August 1). Lett
Page 99 and 100:
DeMaster, D. & Drevenak, J. (1988).
Page 101 and 102:
Geraci, J. (1986). Introduction and
Page 103 and 104:
Jamieson, D. (1985). Against zoos,
Page 105 and 106:
Marinelife Oceanarium. (undated). F
Page 107 and 108:
(1991). Essay: Looking at captive d
Page 109 and 110:
Rodgers, T. (1997, January 22). You
Page 111 and 112:
(1990). Marine mammal behavioral di
Page 113:
Winston, M.L. (1992, December 28).
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